HVK Archives: BJP worried over likely realignment of UF partners
BJP worried over likely realignment of UF partners - The Economic Times
Political Bureau
()
5 April 1997
Title : BJP worried over likely realignment of UF partners
Author : Political Bureau
Publication : The Economic Times
Date : April 5, 1997
The BJP, which is apprehensive that the threat of a mid-term
election would force the partners of the United Front for a
realignment after April 11, will chalk out its strategy to prevent
any durable non-BJP coalition from taking over power at the Centre
in the two-day meeting of the party's national executive.
Party leadership is convinced that Mr Deve Gowda would succeed in
keeping his flock intact till the time he tests his government's
majority on the floor of the House. But what is worrying the party
is the strong possibility of a realignment of forces in the United
Front in the event of the Congress(I) president Sitaram Kesri
getting an invitation to take a shot at forming the next
government.
With Mr Deve Gowda out of the way, the Congress(I) is sure to
shower sops on the partners of the United Front for joining a
coalition. Political observers feel that the Congress(I) might
even go to the extent of making some major 'sacrifices' for
realising its objective to take over Centre.
Despite the tough stand taken by the various allies of the ruling
Front, no party is in a position to face the election. While the
average MP is wary of facing the electorate so soon, leaders like
Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has to contend with a formidable BJP-BSP
combine in his turf of Uttar Pradesh, loath the prospect of an
early poll.
This, BJP leaders fear, will prompt the partners of the United
Front who have been claiming that they would not ditch the
formation for a rethink.
They also do not rule out the possibility of Mr Kesri abandoning
its claim for leading the coalition to forge a tie-up with other
parties.
However, what is giving them some hope about Mr Kesri failing in
his attempt is the stand taken by the CPI(M) against any
arrangement that figures the Congress(I) in it. It had also urged
the President to verify the claims of the Congers. As a matter of
fact, the West Bengal chief minister and senior CPI(M) leader Jyoti
Basu, at his meeting with President, had urged Mr Shanker Dayal
Sharma to invite the Congress(I) only if he is convinced about the
support for the proposed arrangement.
BJP leaders feel that this stand of the CPI(M) will influence the
decision of the President. The BJP leaders, who met the President
soon after the Congress(I) withdrew support for the United Front
regime, too, had made a similar request.
Meanwhile, addressing the routine press conference, party spokesman
Yashwant Sinha, dismissed as "mere kite flying" reports about the
BJP's decision to abstain from the voting on the confidence motion
and asserted that his party will play its role as the main '
opposition party.
Mr Sinha, who observed that the BJP stakes are quite high, said
that the BJP, being the single largest party "should be invited by
the President to form the next government."
Mr Sinha said that the party would discuss its strategy with the
leaders of its allies - the Shiv Sena, the Samata Party, the HVP,
the Akali Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
With the possibility of an early election looming large, the
party's national executive will deliberate on the ways to prepare
its cadre. While majority of members from states like Uttar
Pradesh which had no popular government till last month, are wary
of facing the electorate, there is also demands from other states
to toe a cautious line.
The other issues which are likely to come up at the executive
include the general law and order situation in the country,
particularly in the BJP-controlled states, Kashmir problem,
Uttrakhand, inflation and the economic policy.
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