Kiran Bedi - BJP's Sarah Palin of 2015. Will BJP win?
Yes, it has set the cat among the pigeons - taking on Arvind Kejriwal at his words "Kiran Bedi is the best prime ministerial candidate". But when Kiran Bedi got on the campaign trail, we wish she just waved and did not open her mouth. She seems to be incoherent, not able to explain the switch in her position in joining the BJP and always resorting to touting her achievements in police administration. It brings back memories of Rahul Gandhi's interview with Arnab Goswami. The fallback on some predefined position, the frequent repetitions on how she "changed the world". The spotlight has definitely eroded some of the sheen. The police officer who towed the PM's car - blown to smithereens.
The seeming gag order on Bedi of late, reminds me of the 2008 US presidential race where Sarah Palin was slowly asked to lower her interaction with the media.
I still believe BJP winning Delhi is probably the right outcome for the country. I want Modi to have the power to push laws through Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Naysayers will say that much central power is dangerous to a democracy. But as long as lawmakers dont support bills for the sake of the country but resort to partisan politics and have a stranglehold on development and moving ahead, the government has to resort to ordinances (which will then also be touted as against democracy). For a country so fed up with corruption, the entitled VIP culture, where a lot of youth had not far back said "dictatorship is not a bad thing", this might be the middle ground. A very strong and powerful leader.
The only hope is that Modi does not disappoint - He still has my confidence. At least so far, there have been no wrong moves.