New Delhi, April 4 : Saying that a political upheaval was imminent in Karnataka, which will have assembly elections next year, former senior Karnataka police officer Bhaskar Rao on Monday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) here. A former Additional Director General and a former Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Rao joined the AAP in the presence of its leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He quit service to take the political plunge. “I have seen all the parties from inside the system and I am convinced India needs an Arvind Kejriwal model,” Rao told the media in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. “The day I saw Delhi government schools and Mohalla Clinics, I decided to join the AAP,” he added. Rao, who served for 32 years in IPS, said the AAP ideology and Kejriwal’s struggle inspired him to start his political career with the party. “I’m very inspired by the struggle of Kejriwal, who rose to the rank of a national leader from a mere activist.” Rao said the people of Karnataka want a change and this hope can only be fulfilled by the AAP. “In the last few years, the development in health and education has impressed me so much that I thought why not promote such governance in my state as well? The people of Karnataka are tired of traditional parties. “Its administration needs a change and that can only be provided by AAP. A wave-like Delhi and Punjab is waiting to be unleashed there,” Rao added. Rao said that although Karnataka was a progressive state, the kind of money spent on paper over the years had not led to any dramatic improvement in the quality of people’s lives in the state. He also spoke about corruption and alleged — in an obvious reference to the hijab controversy — that people’s attention in Karnataka was being diverted to “other issues” from the lack of good quality governance. Kejriwal greeted Rao. “Welcome to the AAP family,” he tweeted. “Your experience in public service will definitely help AAP to strengthen and grow in Karnataka.” ASH MR