Bedi named CM candidate after adverse feedback: RSS mouthpiece

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) Kiran Bedi was named the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Delhi after party leaders received "adverse feedback" from the field about the BJP's Delhi unit, RSS mouthpiece Organiser said in its latest issue.

The mouthpiece in an article credited to its Delhi bureau also admits there was resentment against Bedi among the Delhi BJP leaders.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has close ideological and organisational links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"The top BJP leadership after receiving adverse feedback from the field against the Delhi BJP, inducted Kiran Bedi and projected her as BJP's chief ministerial nominee," the article said.

"Despite having resentment among a section within the state unit after Bedi was named as CM nominee, the campaigning has (been) taken to a top gear in the BJP and the party leadership has recalibrated its poll strategy," it said.

The article said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lost its popularity after Arvind Kejriwal quit as chief minister, but added that the party has been able to rejuvenate its cadre.

"The AAP had been at the centre of immense criticism for quitting the Delhi government after 49 days. There has been erosion in the AAP's popularity amongst the middle class that voted the AAP to power, as the voters felt cheated by the decision of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and this earned the latter the title of Bhagoda (man who runs away)," it said.

"... the AAP through its constant field work and 'anti-establishment' rhetoric has managed to reclaim a large portion of its lost ground... the party has been able (to) rejuvenate its cadre, which has made its strong presence up to the booth level," the article said.

It said the AAP was expected to "gain from the pockets like slum dwellers, resettlement colonies, a section of the lower-middle class and minorities (especially Muslims), a considerable chunk of urban youth especially those either involved with NGOs or harbour Left or Ultra-Left ideology".