Bedi was welcomed into the party at an event in the BJP headquarters in Delhi on Thursday attended by party president Amit Shah, finance minister Arun Jaitley and science minister Dr Harshvardhan.
India's 1st women IPS @thekiranbedi ji joined BJP today as a part of our membership drive & upcoming polls in Delhi pic.twitter.com/mz1VhU5HfY
— Amit Shah (@AmitShahOffice) January 15, 2015
In a press release, the BJP said that it would "get new strength with the joining of former IPS officer and the face of anti corruption movement in India". Bedi listed out some of the reasons she had thrown in her lot with the party.
Delhi will get a stable,honest,hardworking,inclusive, sensitive,trusting,progressive,experienced governance. Thanku @PMOIndia+BJP leadership — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) January 15, 2015
Bedi's former colleagues in the Anna Hazare movement purported to be unmoved by her gesture. Bedi had a falling out with them over their decision to form a political party.
I have been fond of Kiran Bedi ji. I always tried to convince her that she shud join politics. I am happy she did it today.
Delhi goes to the polls on February 7.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 15, 2015
Well done BJP! Saved two birds with one #KiranBedi Saved BJP from Satish Upadhyay disaster Saved Modi from direct blame for Delhi defeat
— Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) January 15, 2015