As Delhi polls near, Modi wave ebbs to give Kiran Bedi space | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

As Delhi polls near, Modi wave ebbs to give Kiran Bedi space

Hindustan Times | ByNeelam Pandey and Siladitya Ray, New Delhi
Jan 22, 2015 11:48 AM IST

With Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate, the BJP has decided that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address fewer public meetings in the Capital in the run-up to the February 7 elections, sources said.

With Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate, the BJP has decided that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address fewer public meetings in the Capital in the run-up to the February 7 elections, sources said.

Kiran-Bedi-C-gestures-during-a-road-show-while-heading-to-the-district-collectors-office-to-file-her-nomination-papers-in-New-Delhi-on-Wednesday-AFP-Photo
Kiran-Bedi-C-gestures-during-a-road-show-while-heading-to-the-district-collectors-office-to-file-her-nomination-papers-in-New-Delhi-on-Wednesday-AFP-Photo

The party would promote Bedi and not bank solely on the “Modi wave”, sources said. The BJP wanted the polls to be a direct fight between Bedi and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal, sources said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“Modi ji’s rallies will be held wherever needed. We cannot give a number at this point. But I don’t think there would be too many. Other senior leaders will also campaign in the city,” Delhi BJP Satish Upadhyay said.

The PM was to hold at least 12 rallies but would not address more than seven now and that, too, would depend on his schedule, sources said.

The party is drawing up Bedi’s campaign plan that would include road shows, public meetings and even meeting morning-walkers.

The central leadership, said sources, was also unhappy with the state unit over the January 10 rally that Modi addressed at Ramlila Maidan, which saw a poor turnout.

“Modi ji is our Prime Minister and he has too many engagements and hence he can’t be everywhere. However, he will still address a few rallies,” a party leader said on condition of anonymity. “…It is a state election and the CM candidate needs to visit all the constituencies.”

Party leaders also cited US President Barack Obama’s Republic Day visit to point to Modi’s busy schedule.

Four days after the she joined the BJP, the party Monday declared Bedi the CM candidate, leading to protests within the party.

Outside, her archrival Kejriwal said in picking Bedi, the BJP had conceded defeat. She had walked into a trap and would be a scapegoat for the BJP’s defeat, he said.

The state unit had drawn up a list of 40 star campaigners, including union ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and CMs of BJP-ruled states, Upadhyay said.

Spike in Google searches for Bedi

Google Trends, a tool which reflects the volume of searches on Google, shows that interest in Kiran Bedi has indeeed spiked since she joined the BJP.

The figures for the last 30 days show that while interest in Modi and Kejriwal remained consistent throughout, that for Bedi shot up even higher than that for the Prime Minister by 60:40 on the days after she was inducted.

This need not be read as an approval rating as Google Trends only reflect reader interest, and not positive or negative sentiments.

Bedi vs Kejriwal

Bedi vs Modi

Kejriwal vs Modi

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On