HVK Archives: Jubilant BJP will emphasise 'clean' image in future polls
Jubilant BJP will emphasise 'clean' image in future polls - The Times of India
Anil Saxena
()
9 April 1997
Title : Jubilant BJP will emphasise 'clean' image in future polls
Author : Anil Saxena
Publication : The Times of India
Date : April 9, 1997
With the Delhi high court quashing charges against Bharatiya Janata
Party president L.K. Advani in the hawala case, an upbeat BJP now
only wishes that the political imbroglio at the centre leads to a
snap poll. To achieve this, the next two-three days would see a
confident BJP coming out more vehemently against the Congress party
and the United Front government.
In case the party's desire of mid-term polls is fulfilled, top
leaders have decided to launch a nationwide campaign to project the
BJP's 'clean image." After the high court's favourable verdict, BJP
strategists now hope to make corruption the party's main plank in
the polls.
This had become clear when party general secretary Sushma Swaraj
declared on Tuesday that "it would be an army of tainted leaders
versus a clean BJP at the hustings this time. The politics of the
country would be different from now and the people would have a
clear choice as to who should rule the country."
The high court's verdict has come as a shot in the arm for the BJP,
and a few of those in the party who were of the view that the time
was not yet ripe for BJP to face elections, may now be persuaded to
change their mind.
The verdict has also cleared the way for Mr Advani to contest Lok
Sabha election. lie had on January 16, 1996 resigned from the Lok
Sabha and taken a vow not to enter Parliament until cleared of the
corruption charge. A determined Mr Advani said, "Now there is no
self-imposed constraint restrains on me to fight elections and a
decision would be taken at the appropriate time and in accordance
with the party's views.
A visibly relieved Mr Advani commented that the court's verdict was
"like a big bonanza for the party because the chargesheet levelled
against me was to undermine the party's campaign against
corruption." He added that the verdict had given him immense
strength and that "no one had any doubt that it was a political
persecution."
He said, "There could not have been a better new year gift for me.
In all my 70 years of life, the past 15 months have been the most
testing and traumatic. But the unstinted support and goodwill
extended to me by party colleagues, and million of sympathisers of
the Sangh Parivar helped me to face the ordeal with hope and
fortitude."
Mr Advani also made it clear that he would not be a prime
ministerial candidate of his party. "Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee will
continue to be our prime ministerial candidate," he said.
In the rejoicing that took place at the party's headquarters here,
the setback that the BJP received in the Radhanpur assembly
by-election in Gujarat got overshadowed. The party had put all its
might to defeat chief minister Shanker Sinh Vaghela. There was only
a one-line remark from Mr Advani He said, "Mr Vaghela had chosen a
safe constituency."
The news of announcement of the court's verdict was greeted by the
jubilant workers at the party's office and Mr Advani's residence by
bursting crackers and dancing to the tune of drum beats.
The BJP also stressed that its ally - the Akali Dal - would stand
solidly behind the BJP and vote against the government along with
it during the trail of strength on April 11.
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