Priyanka’s Cheeks to Atishi’s Father: Motormouth Ramesh Bidhuri Embarrasses BJP

Last Updated:January 06, 2025, 09:34 IST

While he may have escaped both the law as well as any major disciplinary action by his party so far, Bidhuri will have to face two strong women in Kalkaji --- Atishi and Alka Lamba

Ramesh Bidhuri is the BJP candidate from the Kalkaji assembly seat for the Delhi elections. (PTI)

Ramesh Bidhuri has done it again. Just days after the BJP fielded the former Delhi MP—who had used a communal slur against then-sitting MP Danish Ali—for the upcoming elections, Bidhuri used a sexist remark against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, saying the party will “build roads like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks" in the constituency if it comes to power.

He continued his diatribe with yet another attack, this time on Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, saying: “Atishi ne baap badal liya. Kejriwal bauna Duryodhan hai. [Atishi has changed her father. Kejriwal is like Duryodhan]."

‘SEXIST’ BIDHURI

Bidhuri is the BJP candidate from the Kalkaji assembly seat, where he said during a rally: “We will build all roads in Kalkaji like the cheeks of Priyanka Gandhi. Lalu had said he would build roads in Bihar like the cheeks of Hema Malini but he could not. But I assure you that we will make all roads in Kalkaji like the cheeks of Priyanka Gandhi."

In 2015, women MPs had complained against Bidhuri’s “sexist and abusive language" in the Lok Sabha. Ranjeet Ranjan, Congress MP from Supaul in Bihar, had officially complained to the Speaker about his “abusive" language against her. ist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, then Congress MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev, Trinamool Congress’s Arpita Ghosh from Balurghat constituency, and CPM’s Kannur MP PK Shreemathi Teacher had accompanied Ranjan to the Speaker’s room.

UP AGAINST 2 STRONG WOMEN

While he may have escaped both the law as well as any major disciplinary action by his party so far, Bidhuri will have to face two strong women in Kalkaji, where he made the controversial statement about Priyanka Gandhi.

He will face sitting chief minister of Delhi and Kejriwal’s confidant Atishi. Atishi, a Rhodes scholar and St Stephen’s alumni who joined as an adviser to Manish Sisodia and made her way to the top seat in the government, is known to be someone who does not mince her words and gives a strong fight. In 2020, she won by a margin of over 11,000 votes against her closest rival, Dharambir Singh.

Ironically, Bidhuri will face the third candidate, Congress’s Alka Lamba, who is All India Mahila Congress president. Lamba started her career with student politics and reached the Delhi Assembly via the Aam Aadmi Party. She later quit AAP to return to her old party, citing ‘disrespect’.

While Atishi blamed the “anti-women mentality of Ramesh Bidhuri" on the entire BJP, Bidhuri was quick to retract his statement. However, the damage was done. It will be interesting to see how Bidhuri deals with both Lamba and Atishi now.

News elections Priyanka’s Cheeks to Atishi’s Father: Motormouth Ramesh Bidhuri Embarrasses BJP