Arvind Kejriwal's avatar in the national scenario as the leading force behind Aam Aadmi Party must have given some respite to the Congress strategists who are still searching for ways to prevent BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from occupying 7 Race Course Road. Perhaps the dichotomy for the Congress must be either to choose both as targets or to use one against another and it looks like they have quietly chosen the second formula.
"Congress has got a reincarnation in the name of AAP. I fear that the strategy that of the Congress is to cut into the vote share of the BJP to prevent Modi. The broom is held by the hand," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told INN Live during a panel discussion.
Political commentators raised eyebrows during the day when former IPS officer Kiran Bedi openly vouched for Modi for the top job saying the Gujarat chief minister is more experienced than Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal is untested. "Comparatively at the moment Modi comes up as an experienced person who has delivered ahead of Gandhi. Kejriwal is yet to open his national account.
Moreover, regarding administrative experience Modi is far above the other two," Bedi told INN Live earlier today during an interview. Naturally, the Congress chose to remain unperturbed by what Bedi said. "Kiran Bedi's statement supporting Modi is really laughable. Had she forgotten what happened in 2002? There is no anti-incumbency against us. People vote differently when it comes to Lok Sabha polls compared to Assembly polls.
There is no doubt that Narendra Modi is being taken seriously by the Congress and he is the man to beat in the next polls," said Congress media co-ordinator Deepak Amin. Bedi's former colleagues of the Anna Hazare-led Lokpal agitation days and AAP member Prithvi Reddy also expressed shock over the former police officer's choice for the next prime minister. "I am shocked about Bedi's choice between the devil and the deep sea.
She has chosen the lesser of the evils. I really wonder what stability she is talking about. Stability is not important. BJP had a stable government in Karnataka under Yeddyurappa in Karnataka for five years. But what happened? It was a stability of corruption," Reddy said criticising both Bedi and BJP at one shot. But there was no denial that Kejriwal is gradually becoming a factor that BJP can choose to remain oblivious about in the race for 7 Race Course Road although the Delhi chief minister's candidature is not confirmed so far.
"AAP is coming to par in Delhi. AAP will not get more seats than Modi but may be enough to stop Modi. For instance, the Muslim votes in Delhi will go for AAP. Kejriwal has successfully made the narrative of anger his intellectual property. Modi can't compete with Kejriwal on that. Modi has to develop a narrative of hope for example with the economy if he has to make a meaningful impact," said senior journalist Ashok Malik explaining how the Kejriwal threat for Modi's rise is real.
Senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, who also participated in the discussion, felt that AAP was banking on the frailties of both the Congress and BJP. "Prior to AAP apart from the Congress and BJP there was no alternative. Now AAP has come forward as a national alternative as the both the nationa parties have weaknesses. While BJP is known for its divisive politics, Congress has its baggage of corruption charges.
As of now, AAP is free from both and is is untested. And frankly, the ruling Congress now represtents no common sense, stability and strength. The coming polls is more about who will benefit from the collapse of the Congress votes," Varadarajan said. He also said that the forthcoming polls are not something like Gandhi versus Modi or Modi versus Kejriwal. The Congress spokesperson also agreed to that.
"It is not a Gandhi versus Modi versus Kejriwal election. It is all a making of the media. India does not not have a presidential form of government. Lot of other factors determine the voting pattern," Amin said. There is another section as well that may be wary of the emergence of Kejriwal. It is Corpoarte India. "There are two different model of economics at play now -- crony capitalism versus the straightforward method of Kejriwal.
His rise must have sent a chill down the spine of Corporate India which is either used to cosy relationship with the Congress and BJP," said Varadarajan.
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