HVK Archives: Advantage BJP
Advantage BJP - The Asian Age
Editorial
()
13 April 1997
Title : Advantage BJP
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Asian Age
Date : April 13, 1997
The Bharatiya Janata Party was the only political organisation to escape
unscathed during the debate in the Lok Sabha on the confidence motion
moved by Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Its leaders, for once off the
hook, were enjoying every moment of the day and the absolute freedom to
rip the Congress and the United Front apart in turn. Mr Jaswant Singh
and Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee were particularly brilliant in their oration
and openly ridiculed the Congress for withdrawing support. What was the
rationale behind the move, the BJP leaders asked. Was it on the advice
of astrologers? questioned Mr Vajpayee. What was so special about that
particular Sunday? The Congress rebels were also not spared and were,
in fact, named by the BJP members who wanted to know what had come off
their supposedly valiant efforts. The BJP, including Ms Uma Bharati,
spoke of Muslims with tenderness and of secularism as an avowed policy.
The United Front and the Congress, they said, had come together to
"defeat us, but now what has happened, how has the situation changed
that they are fighting each other and have forgotten all about us?"
It was a well thought out strategy, of humour, innuendoes and political
comment whereby the BJP managed to distance itself from the sorry
spectacle the others had reduced politics and the country to. It also
struck a high moralistic posture, speaking of values and principles and
wondering loudly at a polity which had decided to sacrifice the same for
power. There is no doubt that the feud between the two groups,
triggered off by the sudden decision by Congress president Sitaram Kesri
to withdraw support, has worked to the advantage of the BJP. A party
beleaguered by factionalism and a virtual caste war has suddenly
revived. The acquittal of Mr L.K. Advani in the hawala case has also
come as a major boost. The formation of governments in Punjab and Uttar
Pradesh albeit with the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Akali
Dal respectively has also helped revive sagging morale. The stars have
begun to shine for the BJP which is now determined to turn the wheel of
fortune. The party has made it clear that it is not afraid of a
mid-term poll as the people's court is the final arbiter in political
disputes of the present kind. This is again in marked contrast to the
almost frenetic efforts in both the United Front and Congress camps to
avoid an early election. The major point that goes in favour of the BJP
is that, unlike the others, it is always ready to review the situation
and change its strategy accordingly. Judging from Mr Vajpayee's speech
in the House it is clear that the BJP has opened its doors for a
coalition government at the Centre. It has two coalition governments in
the state and with Mr Vajpayee commanding the regional parties for their
growth into the national arena, it is obvious that the BJP would not be
averse to coalition allies. It is hopeful that with time and reasoning,
its "untouchable" status will be diluted sufficiently for regional
groups to coalesce with it. Particularly as in most states the regional
parties are locked in direct combat with the Congress and the BJP is not
a major opponent. This, the party, hopes will facilitate co-operation.
But there is one factor that the BJP does not seem to have planned for.
The presence of the minorities in almost all states, and the dependence
of the regional parties on their vote. This alone will make such a
coalition difficult, for the BJP cannot hide its essentially one-point
agenda and the regional parties (except for the Akali Dal and the BSP)
represent a wide range of people and an involved constituency. But then
optimism is what makes politics work and the BJP, judging from recent
developments, has no reason to be otherwise.
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