This is truly epic. Vinod Sharma, in a well-phrased personality analysis of the two big players in the Delhi election (Beyond the News, Hindustan Times), described Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal as “twins who aren’t,” pointing out the parallels in their professional lives.
He writes, “They are IIT alumni, former civil servants, Ramon Magsaysay recipients, social activists-turned-politicians and, above all, self-made celebrities.”
That last label (“self-made celebrities”) is particularly telling. More so today when both of them are going flat out to woo fatigued voters.
This time, I have to say, the Muffler Man has a slight edge over the “Ghungatwali”, in that he is not the one who has discovered a new God. Ms Bedi’s public adoration of her new mentor, Narendra Modi, is making far too many people cringe.
Come on, Ms Bedi. We know you are ambitious. We get it — Mr Modi made you an offer you couldn’t refuse. But did you also have to prostrate yourself at his feet.
Ms Bedi, you are a 66-year-old and not a love-struck schoolgirl. Sure, Mr Modi is charismatic. If you have a massive crush on him, we understand that, too.
But for God’s sake, you are aiming for the top job in the capital of India, and not auditioning for Bigg Boss. Some dignity would be most welcome.
Here’s the worrying part: Embarrassed by your sycophancy, I had tweeted about a top cop turning into a top chamchi.
This was to prod you… wake you up… and make you stop humiliating yourself further. If the people of Delhi believe you can deliver, they will vote for you. If not… hey… don’t sweat. You can always rejoin Mr Kejriwal.
The Delhi elections have taken “sleeping with the enemy” to the next level. No longer can one keep track of who said what about a rival. I am no fan of
Mr Kejriwal, trust me. But I am disgusted enough with the current bed hopping to say I’d rather support a self-declared anarchist than a Jezebel who thinks nothing of heaping lavish praise on a man she once despised.
To all appearances, the only thing that has brought about this switcheroo is the ticket Mr Modi offered. Overnight, Ms Bedi was singing a different tune.
Mr Kejriwal has been as consistent as a mule. He is also impractical. Ms Bedi shares a few of those traits with her twin, too. But what Delhi needs is not a battle of egos. The poor city has been headless for far too long.
For decades, Delhiwallas had been lulled into believing Sheila Dikshit was working for them. Then along came a new gang of dharnawallas, dubbed “disrupters’’ by critics, who broke her bhaanda.
Disruption is good. But it requires a point. Disruption for the sake of disruption was what Mr Kejriwal arrogantly offered when he, as CM had a bloody good shot at bringing about rapid change in the system. What a dumb ass thing to do, to just walk away!
As of now, it’s Advantage Arvind. Yes, the guy is nuts. But remember, he is 19 years younger than Ms Bedi that’s a huge plus in his favour.
The middle-class, urban voter is a selfish creature looking for someone who can deliver. As Ms Bedi has stated while ducking a debate with Mr Kejriwal, she is the one who prefers to deliver, while
Mr Kejriwal debates. Her own track record in this area has not exactly been glorious. There are a few dodgy charges against her (the Aizawl street protests in 1992).
And her hour of glory is pretty much restricted to the early “Crane” Bedi phase in Delhi. I think Delhi deserves better. Neither Mr Kejriwal nor Ms Bedi are the right candidates for the job. Both have too much baggage.
One wonders whether Hazare is chuckling or weeping at this sudden turn of events featuring two of his own protégés, who had jumped ship when the waters turned turbulent? Kitna badal gaya insaan!
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