Worried BJP chose Kiran Bedi after adverse feedback from field: RSS journal admits

“If this has made AAP’s task difficult, the BJP is neither in a comfortable ground at present. The top BJP leadership after receiving adverse feedback from field against the Delhi BJP, inducted Kiran Bedi and projected her as BJP’s chief ministerial nominee,” the article says.

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The article, written by the magazine’s Delhi Bureau, says there was resentment in the state unit after the central leadership of the BJP decided to induct Bedi and made her the CM candidate. But the party recovered, it adds.

“Despite having resentment among a section within the state unit after Bedi was named as CM nominee, the campaigning has taken to a top gear in the BJP and the party leadership has recalibrated its poll strategy,” says the article. It quotes political commentators to claim that Bedi’s induction would “definitely act positive” for the BJP.

While approving of the BJP’s move to call in both star power and manpower to the campaign, the article cautions against “negative comments” by party leaders on social media.

“…In this age of social networking and social media, the BJP, which otherwise have proved to be highly active on this medium due to Modi, needs to take care of it, ensuring lesser negative comments by its leaders on Twitter or Facebook,” it says.

The visit by US President Barack Obama could help the BJP, the article reckons: “No doubt Delhiites are eagerly waiting for the Modi magic to work. The analysts feel that the US President Barack Obama’s three-day India visit and the developments happened on India’s strategic and trade fronts would go in favour of BJP in Delhi election.”

It also highlights why the AAP is strong: “…The AAP through its constant field work and anti-establishment rhetoric has managed to reclaim a large portion of its lost ground. After facing a heavy loss in the General Election, and also in the recent Delhi Cantonment Board polls a large number of volunteers and some prominent members left AAP. But now the party been able rejuvenate its cadre, which has made its strong presence up to the booth level.”

The AAP, the Organiser says, “is expected to gain from the pockets like slum-dwellers, resettlement colonies, a section of the lower-middle class and minorities (especially Muslims), a considerable chunk of urban youth especially those either involved with NGOs or harbour Left or Ultra Left ideology.”

However, it adds, there has been a “steady erosion in AAP’s popularity among the middle-class voters that it had enjoyed in 2013”.