Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi seems to have “realised” that the way to the Chief Minister’s chair is through the Legislature.
Ever since her name was announced for the top post late on Monday night, Ms. Bedi has spent more time in her constituency, Krishna Nagar, addressing party workers and taking out padayatras than holding jan sabhas anywhere else in the Capital.
She and her supporters have also been distributing pamphlets — one side of which details her profile as an IPS officer and her vision for the city.
Though Krishna Nagar, an Assembly constituency that has remained with the BJP for over five terms, is considered a “safe seat”, Ms. Bedi is taking no chances. Friday saw her manoeuvre the lanes of this East Delhi area on foot and by a cycle-rickshaw for a few hours, where she stopped to interact with women, children and traders.
Ms. Bedi, who later interacted with journalists at the party office, appreciated the number of dispensaries available for the residents of Krishna Nagar and acknowledged Union Minister and ENT surgeon Harsh Vardhan’s contribution.
Dr. Vardhan, a five-time MLA from Krishna Nagar, has been by Ms. Bedi’s side to acquaint her with his constituency. He and former Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel also accompanied Ms. Bedi while she took out a road show before filing nominations to contest the February 7 polls.
With the choice between “an outsider and a local” for Krishna Nagar voters this time, Ms. Bedi has had to work harder at getting to know the Assembly constituency. Tuesday saw her and Dr. Vardhan interact with the local cadre, with both being greeted by slogan shouting from the respective camps.
Ms. Bedi made sure she acknowledged Dr. Vardhan’s contributions and had said: “Krishna Nagar is a very pure constituency, which is why I said that I will nurture this garden well. I’m going to be here temporarily only, as a caretaker. I hope Dr. Sahab will be at rest as this caretaker is also very effective and hardworking, and knows the work that needs to be done. He’ll be my advisor. iIf I have any problem, I will go to him.”
Dr. Vardhan, who has lived in the area for decades, won with a whopping margin of 43,150 votes during the 2013 Assembly elections.
Compared to Aam Aadmi Party chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejriwal, Ms. Bedi’s road show in this East Delhi constituency drew lesser crowds and put her in the news for the wrong reason — putting a BJP scarf around the statue of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai.
