Delhi Polls: BJP mum but Kiran Bedi shows who's the boss

NEW DELHI: The Delhi BJP headquarters erupted in celebration on Friday as senior members of the party's state unit queued up to welcome former IPS officer Kiran Bedi. A group of drummers stood at the main entrance while party workers hurriedly made arrangements for fireworks.

Although BJP has not declared Bedi its CM candidate, her address hinted that she will be in the driver's seat if the party wins. "My suggestions for Delhi's development have been accepted by the PM. They include videoconferencing centres in every district through which people may contact the PMO. The CM will inspect any area of Delhi at 9am without informing anyone. All government departments will have to follow the CM."

Mid-speech, she asked party workers to quietly listen to her. "We have not come here for entertainment. Please let me speak for 10 minutes to put forward my views," she said. The hectoring tone seemed to put off the cadre. "The order has come from the top, so we have to follow it. But she doesn't have political experience. Her style might not go down well with many in the party,'' said a worker.

A section of party veterans is also sore over her last-minute induction and prominence. Resentment is growing over the party's perceived reliance on "outsiders" (Bedi and Shazia Ilmi) to counter Aam Aadmi Party. Bedi's entry into Delhi politics has completely relegated the state unit's brass, including CM aspirants.

Bedi, who led the anti-corruption movement in 2011 against political parties, has been handpicked by BJP chief Amit Shah and the Prime Minister to counter AAP in Delhi, said sources.

Despite the hostile undercurrents, most party members said that Bedi's entry will bolster BJP's chances in the elections, as youth, women and middle class voters will connect with her. "She is going to campaign for the party in the capital and will also contest the election. She will be a big boost for the party,'' said Satish Upadhyay, Delhi BJP chief.

There were many CM aspirants in the party before Bedi unexpectedly eclipsed them. With BJP making the election a vote for Modi, they had hoped that the CM-as in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana-would be named after the elections. Bets were on Union science and technology minister and Chandni Chowk MP Harsh Vardhan, and HRD minister Smriti Irani. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay was also seen to have a chance.

Experts say Bedi's late induction shows the party was grappling with self-doubt and felt the need to bring in a "more credible" face to counter AAP. "This is a masterstroke. AAP will find it hard to counter this. She has administrative experience and is a credible face," said a senior BJP member.