Delhi elections 2015: An acerbic campaign where no one was spared

NEW DELHI: A look-back at the Delhi poll campaign reflects how the war of words among different contestants and parties unfolded one of the fiercest and bitter election narratives of recent times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for the election battle by making a veiled reference to Arvind Kejriwal as an "anarchist" in the first BJP rally at Ramlila Maidan.

"We need development here, not anarchy. They are good at dharnas. We are good at running government," the Prime Minister said

After Kiran Bedi decided to make her political debut by joining the BJP, Congress came down hard on her terming it as "gross political opportunism".

Arvind Kejriwal welcomed his former comrades-in-arms with a politically correct tweet saying "I have been fond of Kiran Bediji. I always tried to convince her that she should join politics. I am happy she did it today".

However, the AAP niceties disappeared as soon as Shazia Ilmi followed Bedi and the verbal slugfest broke loose.

Ashutosh called Bedi's move of joining BJP as an "iconic political somersault and opportunism on her behalf".

The party dug out old tweets of both the former India Against Corruption members, the ones in which they had previously criticised Narendra Modi.

"One day, Namo (Narendra Modi) will have to respond with clarity about riot massacre," a tweet posted by Bedi on March 16, 2013.

AAP went on to say that Bedi was "parachuted" into BJP which can make her a "scapegoat" in case the party lost the elections.

"Bedi is a scapegoat.... Vijay Goel, Satish Upadhyay, Harsh Vardhan are plotting against her," Kejriwal said.

Kiran Bedi hit out at Kejriwal terming him as a "toxic" influence and his twitter account "polluting".

"His company is toxic. I felt it to an extent even when I was with him, but we had a common goal that the country must rid itself of scams and corruption," Bedi said.

In a tweet, she said, "I blocked him (Kejriwal) 15 months back when he called himself an anarchist. He was spreading negativity. Didn't want my four million followers to see negativity... it was a polluting account".

As the controversy surrounding AAP's election funding erupted, a new saga of mudslinging was witnessed.

Shazia Ilmi dubbed the Rs 2 crore donation to the Aam Admi Party as "hawala at midnight".

"They talk about an internal Lokpal. But no one worries of checking donations of Rs 2 crore. Kejriwal is hiding behind a false image of honesty and trying to fool people," Ilmi said.

Amit Shah also attacked AAP extensively on the controversy at the election rallies with catchy alliteration.

"Kali raat me kala dhan lene wali party kali rajneeti hi kar sakti hai (Party which takes black money in the darkness of the night can only indulge in black politics)," Shah said at a rally on Feb 4.

A day later at another rally, he said, "Kali raat me aane wala dhan kala dhan hi hota hai (money which comes in the dark of the night is black money)".

Miffed at not getting an invitation to watch the Republic Day parade, Kejriwal also created a furore and Bedi came down heavily on the AAP chief.

"I think he is playing sob sob. I think he must grow up. Invitations come not when you desire. They come by something else but they are never demanded, they come by rules and regulations, by protocols whatever it is," Bedi said.

AAP accused that the cameras were focusing a little more on Bedi who was seated in the front rows watching the parade.

"It is for the country to see what is being done. How a sacred occasion like the Republic Day is being politicised. the camera was focusing a little extra on her," senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said.

The Prime Minister switched into election gear after hosting President Obama on R-day and accused AAP of "backstabbing" Delhi voters.

"The very people whom you voted for last time stabbed in your back. They shattered your dreams and destroyed Delhi. You gave them a befitting punishment in Lok Sabha polls. People do not repeat their mistakes again and again," Modi said at an election rally.