KIRAN BEDI: No spin, no nonsense
The nomination of Dr Kiran Bedi from Krishna Nagar Assembly constituency has suddenly made this seat high-profile and important. The Assembly constituency is considered a BJP stronghold. Five-time winner from this seat — Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan — has been given the charge to ensure Bedi’s victory.
Kiran Bedi joined the BJP this week as a chief ministerial candidate of the party. She is known for being a hard taskmaster and was a long-time associate of Arvind Kejriwal and social activist Anna Hazare during the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement.
The BJP candidate has a huge task ahead as she is being accused of opportunism. All her life she had been an administrator and has zero experience in politics. Her entry into the political arena has also not gone down well among the party cadre. But, this is the time Bedi will have to prove her leadership quality as the BJP has reposed its faith in her credentials. Bedi has given six-P formula for Delhi — prison (reform), prosecution, people outreach, parents, improving policing, including community policing, and finally the Press.
ARVIND KEJRIWAl: Alarmist then, now aggressor
If it is a fight for prestige for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is a do-or-die battle for Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. Kejriwal, who is currently busy countering his bhagoda image. He is not just fighting an attack to regain his popularity (which seems to be improving every day), he is also fending attacks launched by his former colleagues — Shazia Ilmi and Kiran Bedi. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s 49-day rule was full of controversies as he failed to deliver on almost all his promises. Kejriwal’s style of functioning and dominance in the party has been questioned by many other volunteers and senior leaders openly.
The big question is why Kejriwal failedIJ The answer, quite certainly, is that he does not have experience of administration and governance. He tried to run the Government on the lines of activism and it was here he ran out of the gas and resigned to protest against the passage of his pet child, the Delhi lokpal Bill. He is again in the fray with the same set of promises that had remained unfulfilled such as reduction in power and water tariffs, security to women etc. However, he is still enjoying the support of the lower strata of the society and minority community who see an option in AAP.
AJAY MAKEN: Political warhorse still hot to trot
Congress Chief Minister candidate Ajay Maken is a seasoned politician but has been given the charge of the party campaign at the wrong time when the mood is against the Congress.
Maken had won the Assembly polls thrice and lok Sabha polls twice. In 1999, he was parliamentary secretary to then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and later become Transport Minister in 2001. He was a strong supporter of privatisation of power distribution companies and controversial bus rapid transit system. Congress workers are expecting that the party will perform well in the turbulent period. Close to party high command, Maken was brought for the organisational help and he was made to resign as Union Minister. Not mending his relationship his bête noire Sheila Dikshit, may harm his campaign since Sheila Dikshit too enjoy good command in Delhi circle. Taking a leaf out of Modi’s ability to make catchy coinages, the Congress projection of Maken is ‘clean and competent’.