Though not openly talked about, but the three-day visit of US President Barack Obama in the national Capital is likely to favour poll prospects of the BJP. The party leadership believes that the bromance between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a positive impact on the youth and the middle class voters.
While State unit chief Satish Upadhyay refused to relate the two events and called it “a matter of chance”, BJP chief ministerial nominee Kiran Bedi didn’t fail to use Obama’s visit as an opportunity to impress the voters during campaigning for the February 7 Assembly polls. While the party officially tried to keep Obama’s Republic Day visit and the Delhi polls as separate chapters, its CM nominee, however, mentioned the President in her address to the people. “We want a Delhi where we can live to the highest point along with the entire nation. President Obama’s visit has made India fly, isn’t itIJ India now looks like the No. 1 country in the world. We need to do the same for Delhi,” she said, while electioneering in Krishna Nagar constituency from where she will fight the elections.
Especially after Obama’s 30-minute address to the youth wherein he offered that the US could not only be a “key” partner but also the “best” partner of India, party leaders feel the Brand Modi which they largely are relying on to win the polls has got a big fillip. When asked if Obama has turned out to be the party’s de facto star for the upcoming polls, national secretary of the BJP, Anil Jain denied it, but also said that it could bring in lots of energy in the competitive poll scenario in Delhi.
“President Obama is in no way our star campaigner. People should be proud to be Indians as Modi has taken the reputation of the country to a new level globally. It has filled everyone in the city with positivity and renewed aspirations,” Jain said. Modi had left the crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York in a thrall with his steering speech. Incidentally, the timing of his visit to the US too was just on the eve of Maharashtra Assembly polls. looking back, party leaders do not deny that the majestic event helped the party register a decisive victory in the State.
Bedi, during her regular morning visit to Krishna Nagar constituency, also lauded the Centre’s diplomatic efforts for bolstering India’s international image. Her statement, however, drew much criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP leader Ashish Khetan questioned the timing of Obama’s visit. Another party leader Sanjay Singh said BJP was trying to rev up its “dwindling support base”. “This reflects the restlessness and helplessness of BJP. They now feel that if they are not garnering support from other quarters,” he said. Senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said Bedi’s “casualness in her remarks reflects her political immaturity and instrumental attitude.”However, BJP leaders remained unfazed by the accusations of AAP, and said Obama’s visit is something which all Indians should be proud of. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, maintained, “Obama’s visit should not be linked with the elections.”