HVK Archives: Waiting in the wings
Waiting in the wings - The Pioneer
Editorial
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8 April 1997
Title : Waiting in the wings
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Pioneer
Date : April 8, 1997
By a sudden quirk of fate, the BJP once again finds itself at the
centrestage of politics in New Delhi. Understandably it is in an upbeat
mood with the Congress and the United Front set on a collision course.
However, unlike May when it opted for power and failed to sustain it
beyond 13 days, it is doing well to proceed cautiously at present. As is
evident from the deliberations at its just-concluded national executive
meeting, the party is not prepared to make another premature bid for
office. Instead, it seems content to take a ringside view of the
growing hostility between the Congress and the UF on the one hand, and
mounting inner contradictions within the UF on the other. As a strategy,
the BJP appears to have decided to play safe. It will stake its claim
to the South Block, in case the Deve Gowda Government falls, only if it
is assured of a workable majority in the Lok Sabha. Alternatively, the
party is gearing up for mid-term polls, as was evident from the tone and
tenor of party president, Mr LK Advani's, inaugural speech at the
national executive.
Apparently, the BJP has dramatically changed its tactics which is
perfectly understandable. It can ill afford the public ridicule it is
bound to invite in case its attempt to wrest power comes a cropper for
the second time in less than a year. It has rightly sensed that rarely
does history repeat itself too soon for a political party to learn from
its previous mistakes. Not many will question the leadership's wisdom if
it steers clear of the present political crisis at the Centre instead of
indulging in manipulations. It cannot perhaps be faulted for deriving
satisfaction from the parting of ways between the UF and the Congress-an
arrangement that was based entirely on their common objective of keeping
the saffron forces out of power.
Arguably the BJP's options are limited so far as its decision to vote
out the Deve Gowda Government -should voting actually take place-is
concerned. It nurses a grievance that the present ruling dispensation
has come to power at its expense. Tactically, it appears to have played
its cards well by confounding the prevailing confusion through periodic
hints that it prefers Mr Deve Gowda's continuation to any Congress-led
regime. Its low profile at this juncture seems to be paying off and the
leadership may be right in assessing that the BJP's fortunes are on the
upswing. Its success in forging strategic alliances with regional
parties has already proved beneficial, especially in overcoming its
earlier untouchability tag. The BJP is sharing power in Punjab and has
managed to upset the applecart of the Congress and UF constituents in UP
with the help of the BSP, which explains its confidence about facing a
possible mid-term poll. While its preference for snap polls may have
determined its decision not to stake claim to power in haste, this is
particularly welcome as its abstinence will discourage horse-trading of
MPs.
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