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Expelled from party days before poll, BJP candidate comes out

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Savita Khatri, whose candidature was cancelled by the BJP for allegedly inviting sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar for campaigning, won from Narela ward by defeating her AAP rival by over 4,000 votes.

Khatri asserted that she is "very much there in the BJP" despite being expelled by the party and her candidature being cancelled days ahead of voting for municipal elections on April 23.

"Why are you asking me the same question again and again. I was in the BJP and I am very much there even now," she told PTI after her victory.

She invited the ire of BJP leaders after Kumar, who was sacked from ministerial birth by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after a sex tape purportedly featuring him surfaced, was seen campaigning for her in Narela.
 

Infuriated over the incident, the BJP expelled Khatri from the party and cancelled her candidature from Narela.

"The party will not tolerate any kind of association or connivance with any such element (Kumar) from the AAP," BJP national vice president Vinay Sahsrabuddhe had said announcing expulsion of Khatri.

Nevertheless, she said that she considered herself as a BJP councillor after the victory.

"I fought the election on 'Lotus' symbol. Even several BJP leaders called me and congratulated me for my victory," she said.

Khatri said that as a first-time councillor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, she would ensure cleanliness in her ward and empower women.

"There is no toilet for women in Narela market as well as near the bus stand. I will ensure there are enough toilets for them. Also, I will work for installing more CCTV cameras so that crimes against women could be effectively checked," she added.

Khatri defeated AAP candidate Kavita by a margin of 4,480 votes.

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First Published: Apr 26 2017 | 9:42 PM IST

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