With just 48 hours in hand to make a final mark before voters seal their fates, the BJP and its chief ministerial nominee Kiran Bedi have left no stone unturned to win “two-thirds majority” in the February 7 Assembly polls. From “Crane Bedi” to “Vikas Bedi” to a teary-eyed Bedi, the former IPS officer hogged the limelight throughout the three weeks since she was inducted into the party.
Coming out with a blueprint for issues pertaining to the Capital and having her 6-S formula replicated on the party’s Vision Document, the confident and extrovert Bedi has been holding roadshows and rallies all over the city, not missing the party’s “safe seat” Krishna Nagar for even a single day.
Anointed as the BJP’s CM candidate on January 19, Bedi has taken women’s security as the top priority for which she has come up with her 6-P formula. During her rallies, mostly women and the youth throng to see and listen to the strong personality.
Known for her no-nonsense and straightforward attitude, she has attracted many, especially the upper middle class and above. Her speeches clearly define her plan for Delhi and how she would turn it into a world-class city.
Roped in personally by party president Amit Shah, Bedi has left nothing to chances in her campaign to contain and counter the growing support base of AAP. The party has deployed more than 100 MPs into the battle ground.
However, out of the 1,500 rallies they planned, only around a thousand actually happened. And the negative campaign and controversial remarks by some of its leaders has not gone down well with a section of its own voters.
The AAP had silently been reaching out to the remotest corner in the city for over a month whereas the BJP sprang into action only after the Election Commission notified the poll dates. The party’s State unit which otherwise was managing the election affairs and had organised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first rally for the elections was asked to step back as the Central leadership took over.
Not tasted victory in the national Capital for 16 years, the BJP increased its poll pitch by fielding over 100 MPs and 14 Union Ministers, and holding small and big rallies across the State. Realising that outcome will be seen as a reflection on her appeal, Bedi is doing her best to prove that even a political green horn could be a huge vote catcher.