Kiran Bedi, who has for years virtually backed Narendra Modi and his party BJP, has finally joined the party and could well be its Delhi CM candidate.

On 9 January, 2014, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi ended speculation about her sympathies when she endorsed Narendra Modi for the top post of Prime Minister.

"India First! Stable, Well Governed, Administered, Accountable and Inclusive. As a an independent voter, my vote is for NaMo," Bedi tweeted, reiterating her support for the BJP's then prime ministerial candidate.

"I am supporting Modi because we want a stable government not hung Parliament," she had said in January 2014, hitting back at here bête noire Arvind Kejriwal, who had accused her of advocating Modi's agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. "Kejriwal is inexperienced and that's why I am supporting the BJP... Supporting Modi is a sacred call and I am in a bandwagon of India first to save the country from Congress and AAP," she had said.

A little over a year later, Bedi has fulfilled her desire to be an active part of Modi's 'India First' campaign and on Thursday was roped in as the party's Delhi face ahead of the assembly elections, thanks to what she now terms is PM Modi's "inspirational leadership".

Of course, Bedi's views have not been consistent, either on Modi or the BJP or, in fact, on joining politics.

Will not join politics or the BJP



Bedi, who has repeatedly tweeted expressing her support for Narendra Modi and the BJP, ruled out that joining active politics in November last year:

"There are always speculations, I am very strongly public, but I am not political. There is a difference between being public and political. I deny reports of joining the BJP. When did I say I would become a member of any political party? I have never said that I am joining BJP."

Less than two months later, she is virtually the face of the party's campaign in Delhi and could well be the chief ministerial candidate and/or the party's election campaign chief.

In August 2013, when Kejriwal was set to launch his political party, Bedi distanced herself from it saying she was only with social activist Anna Hazare and would not want to align with any political outfit.

"I will not hit street for political campaigns and would extend value-based support to them... We should focus on targeting the government and not the BJP," she said, clarifying that she would not target the then main opposition party.

"I am sticking to the view that was original, which was to be focused on the ruling party. There have been two perspectives, one being Arvind's team and other was mine that was to keep the focus on the ruling party, which was to give the country a proper focus. I am just talking about the focus and doesn't mean I am on the brand wagon of BJP. I am just saying that focus on prime accused," Bedi said, according to this India Today report.

Though Bedi now claims that it was Modi's 'inspirational leadership' that has led her to switch from social activism to politics, minutes after news reports emerged that she would be joining the saffron party, Twitter users pulled up earlier tweets by Bedi, as old as 2011, where she criticised the then CM for not doing enough in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In 2011, Bedi appeared critical of the then Gujarat CM, questioning who would run the state if he was sitting on a fast in Ahmedabad. Here is what Bedi had tweeted about Modi's Sadbhavana Mission, a fast that cost the state government Rs 1.57 crore.

Has CM taken leave of absence from work? Who grants it? Three day fast by CM means govt coming to standstill. Who pays for this — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 15, 2011

Governors cld reject leave to CMs (if leave grantors?)for 'fasts' and ask them to stay at work. Wld be a new era in democracy? — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 15, 2011

She even took a dig at Modi saying while he had the right to fast, he probably should first step out and meet the victims of the riots in person.

CM gujarat has a right to fast for communal harmony. But what if he first planned to reach out to families in need of healing? — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 15, 2011

A few hours later, perhaps facing criticism for her tweets against the Gujarat CM, Bedi responded to a tweet by @MODIfyIndia.

@KatuSatya I am sure Mr Modi means well. I only suggest and request him to choose better options of inclusive-ness. Its time for that — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 16, 2011

Bedi has long maintained an ambivalent position on Modi, often wanting it both ways. Criticising him one minute, and praising him the other.

In 2012, Bedi took on the Gujarat government over the appointment of a Lokayukta, but praised the then CM for being a 'strong leader', ushering "development perhaps even more than seen in other states".

GUJ lokayukta is weaker than Lokpal cleared by Select Committee of Parliament. Lokpal is better in several ways. Cld have been followed! — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) April 3, 2013

While the BJP government in Gujarat, now led by Anandiben Patel, is yet to put in place a strong legislation, Bedi, the anti-corruption activist, has now turned silent.

In 2013, while Modi was addressing the IndiaToday conclave, Bedi tweeted: "One day NaMo will need to respond with clarity about riots massacre. Despite courts clearing him so far."

But she soon went on to praise him, urging her followers to tune in to the TV channel and listen to what she termed was a "totally field CM who is close to grass roots in development and can answer effectively!"

If u r missing NaMo Speak on HT,IToday Conclave,u r missing something of value!Listen to him. Ideas for all in Governance — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) March 16, 2013

There is no doubt that the BJP has much cause to celebrate in landing Bedi as the face of their Delhi election campaign, which was beginning to look vulnerable without a CM candidate. But Bedi will have a lot of explaining to do in the month ahead, and not all of it will be convincing.