Ahead of the MCD elections in Delhi, BJP faced an embarrassing situation when some media reports started emerging about Ex AAP Minister Sandeep Kumar campaigning for the party:
#Delhi MCD polls: @AamAadmiParty leader sacked over sex scandal, #SandeepKumar campaigns for @BJP4India https://t.co/MPDtNLqcON pic.twitter.com/0hNp47Il1u
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 17, 2017
Sandeep Kumar is most well known for his ‘sex tape’ that emerged last year in August, which ensured that he got removed as a minister, ironically of the Women and Child Development ministry. Reports also claimed that the woman who featured in the sex tape had lodged a complaint against Sandeep Kumar, accusing that he sexually exploited her on pretext of getting her a ration card. Plus there was another controversy about him trying to use his official position to ensure an American citizenship for his newly born son.
All this made Sandeep Kumar, who continues to be an AAP MLA from Sultanpur Majra constituency, extremely unpopular especially in the virtual world. So it was hardly a shot in the arm for BJP when he decided to support the party.
According to reports, Sandeep was seen on Sunday campaigning door to door for Savita Khatri, who was chosen as BJP’s candidate from Narela in the upcoming MCD polls. According to the report, he was also seen criticizing AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal by making statements like:
Kejriwal is fooling and misleading Delhi’s people with his broom
He was asked as to why he was going against Kejriwal and supporting BJP, and he said:
Where ever my friends are fighting, I will support them. Be it BJP, BSP or the Congress, I will campaign for all my friends. Mr Khatri is a dear friend, so I am campaigning for his wife
Incidentally AAP volunteers and leaders started attacking the BJP for supposedly letting him campaign:
Arvind Kejriwal’s ex minister and sex scandal accused Sandeep Kumar campagins for BJP in Delhi for MCD polls. #राशन_कार्ड_भाजपा_के_साथpic.twitter.com/ucnjktW7wI
— Mehul Choradiya (@ChoradiyaMehul) April 17, 2017
जो भक्तजन आप से चिल्ला चिल्ला कर अपनी माताओं/बहनों का राशन कार्ड बनवाने अब कहाँ जाएँ पूछ रहे थे,वही BJP संदीप को आज अपने घर ले आई?? कमाल है। https://t.co/nJXI5kRbIK
— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) April 17, 2017
In response to all the allegations and uproar, the BJP has come out strongly to deny any association with Sandeep Kumar and called this whole affair as planned conspiracy against the party.
BJP Delhi’s spokesperson Tajinder Bagga claimed that Sandeep was never invited to campaign for the BJP and when he arrived with the media he was promptly made to leave:
BJP never invited him for campaign,He came along with media. BJP Office Bearers & Karyakartas sent him back from Rally venue in few Seconds https://t.co/XP6F3tcmpS
— Tajinder Pal S Bagga (@TajinderBagga) April 17, 2017
BJP leader Nupur Sharma called it a ‘plant’
Let me make it absolutely clear to all concerned Sandeep Kumar has neither joined BJP nor has BJP asked him to join. At best this is a plant https://t.co/ap0ihppbX5
— Nupur Sharma (@NupurSharmaBJP) April 17, 2017
The spokesperson of the BJP named Naveen Kumar claimed that AAP volunteers were running a social media campaign to defame the party and that they had filed a police complaint in this regard.
Also according to latest information, the BJP has also taken action against Savita Khatri for whom Sandeep had campaigned. BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga claimed that she has been expelled from the party:
BJP expels Narela candidate Savita Khatri from party, now she is not a BJP candidate
— Tajinder Pal S Bagga (@TajinderBagga) April 18, 2017
This does raise the question as to whether Khatri too was in cahoots with Sandeep when it comes to the whole controversy which BJP claims was all planned.
