Kiran Bedi Divides BJP, AAP Seizes the Moment

NEW DELHI: Delhi has finally become hot with election fever, as barbs fly and campaigning picks up momentum even without declared candidates.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is at the moment facing the brunt of its decision to bring in Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate. Declared or not, she has already ruffled feathers with almost the entire state unit up in revolt. Reporters and even other political leaders are having a field day as suddenly the BJP Delhi leaders have found their tongue, and are using it to full advantage against Bedi and the decision taken by the current leadership. Atal Behari Vajpayee and LK Advani have emerged as the declared ‘favourites’ of the BJP Delhi strongmen who have united despite their differences against Bedi.

The former cop who suddenly finds Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s to be the “most beautiful” face after she castigated him thoroughly in tweets earlier for his role in the Gujarat violence has already ruffled the feathers of the Delhi state unit flock. In fact the BJP had to admonish one of its local leaders for speaking against her openly. One of the seven BJP MP’s from Delhi Manoj Tiwari told reporters, "I didn't like the way she spoke to BJP workers a few days ago. I wasn't there...but this is the feedback I've got from workers. She should be humble, she has been brought on as a BJP worker. She is not the Chief Ministerial candidate so far.”

The actor-politician also said, "We don't need someone like a thaanedar (policeman). We need a leader who can take everyone along." He upset Kiran Bedi and was told to explain his remarks by top leaders of the party. However, it is unlikely that the resentment will be overt and as a CM aspirant Jagdish Mukhi said, “we are a disciplined party.” He did admit that there was no consultation with the Delhi leaders before the decision to induct Bedi into the party was taken.

The discipline has not stopped the off the record jibes, and the resentment against Bedi whose rough-and-ready attitude is not going to help charm the party workers in Delhi. Her attitude is of a Chief Minister, even before the party parliamentary board meeting, and this has not gone down well with the BJP workers who are not particularly enthused about this choice. Worst fears were confirmed when she invited the seven MPs of the party to her residence for tea to discuss development works with them. Two refused to attend.

The resentment has made it even more difficult for the BJP to finalise its list of candidates, yet another indication that it is feeling the heat. It is the last off the block with the list, with just over two weeks left for polling day February 7.

Meanwhile the Aam Aadmi Party that is seen to be the direct challenge to the BJP has a head start. Its chief Arvind Kejriwal is in the thick of the campaign, and the initial nervousness that met the appointment of Bedi has disappeared following the anger with the BJP and the storm of protest on the social media where tweets have brought out the ‘hypocrisy’ of Kiran Bedi’s before and after positions.

Kerjiwal, addressing a meeting at communal violent hit Trilokpuri, said, “earlier, the BJP called 200 MPs to Delhi (to campaign). When that did not work out, they brought in ministers. This attempt failed and the Prime Minister stepped in. When the PM’s rally flopped, they got Kiran Bedi and Shazia Ilmi to join the party.”

“They can bring anyone they want, but let me tell you one thing — truth always prevails,” he said.

Kejriwal had specific promises for the resettlement colonies in Delhi. He said that AAP will ensure that not a single of the five lakh jhuggis in the state will be demolished if it came to power. He also touched on a live issue that the BJP had promised but not delivered on, namely freehold rights or ownership of land rights to the occupants of these colonies in three months. And taking his customary dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal said, “A week ago, the PM addressed Delhi at Ramlila Maidan. I thought that he will make big announcements about Delhi. However, I was hurt. He did not do anything except abuse me. I think that all of them are baffled and scared.”