NATIONAL POLITICS

BJP: Views of A.B. Vajpayee

The Congress is in poor health. It does not have significant presence in any major state in the north, barring Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is sure to avenge its defeat in the next elections. The ruling party is also losing ground in the south. In the west both in Maharashtra and Gujarat - the party stands vanquished. In the eastern region too, it has not shown any signs of revival. With NTR gone now, the National Front-Left Front has an uphill task. The contest in the next election will be between the BJP and the Congress.

The BJP has been successful in delivering its message to the masses notwithstanding the misleading propaganda unleashed against us by our opponents. The Supreme Court too, through its judgments in vital cases such as the need to enforce a uniform civil code and on the definition of Hindutva, has endorsed the BJP point of view. Our mass base has been expanding. There are a number of positive factors to ensure our victory.

We don't have to look for issues in this election. Problems are crying out for attention. Hawala and St. Kitts are not the only issues. The insurgency in Kashmir, periodic bomb explosions in the Capital and elsewhere and the latest dropping of arms by a foreign plane reveal gaping holes in national security. All these issues, along with Ayodhya will ensure a BJP victory.

No doubt minority support is valuable, but elections can be won even without it if the bulk of the electorate is with you. In any case, do not entertain thoughts that we have doubts about minority backing. I would not like to reveal the number of Muslims who have enrolled as BJP workers. But I can share with you that the feeling in minority circles is: "Let's go with the BJP if this is going to be the winning party."

Who has identified us as enemies of the minority community? For the BJP, all Indians are equal. I am sure members of the minority community will understand us and our stand on various issues better. We are working for it. Our record in the states where we have been in power speaks for itself. There is no discrimination for or against anybody on the basis of religion. And let me clarify here once for all that the BJP will follow middle- of-road policies if it is voted for power at the Centre.

I do not think that the BJP is packed with communal fanatics. Different persons in the party are likely to have different views on the various issues and problems. All our decisions are taken after due deliberations and after taking everybody into confidence.

(Source: The Times of India, 10 February, 1996)

Ajay Singh on BJP's Decline in UP

The cutting edge of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) political weapon, the trident, which is made up of three major political planks - corruption in high places, criminalization of politics and national security appears to have been blunted by recent developments.

 After the chargesheet against BJP president L.K. Advani in the hawala case, the party seems to have lost its moral right to claim to be the sole torch-bearer" of probity in public life.

 While BJP strategists are yet to recover from the shock of the hawala scandal, the charge against BJP Lok Sabha member Brij Bhushan Saran Singh - of harboring the hitmen of Dubai-based mafia don Dawood Ibrahim - has dealt a body blow to the party.

 In the fast-changing political scenario, the BJP appears desperate. The party appears to be losing its ability to make strategical moves and set the agenda for others to follow.

 The recent political events have robbed the BJP of its main electoral planks... The charges slapped against Mr. Brij Bhushan Saran Singh under the provisions of the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) came as a bolt from the blue. The CBI's chargesheet seems to have knocked the bottom out of the BJP's second electoral plank of "criminalization of politics". The party's reaction to the TADA charges against Mr. Singh betrayed nervousness in the Hindutva camp.

 The BJP had exposed itself to the charges of harboring a criminal who maintains close links with Dawood Ibrahim. The damage done to the credibility to the party was further compounded with party. spokesperson Sushma Swaraj making an absurd attempt at feigning ignorance about Mr. Singh's criminal past.

 BJP strategists are searching for an issue that can regain advantage for their party. What contributes further to the party's dilemma is that emotive issues like Ram Janmabhoomi, Kashi Vishwanath or Mathura issue are not cutting ice with the electorate.

 However, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) may try whip up hysteria on these issues to enable the BJP to take a lead over its political adversaries. But these attempts are unlikely to yield electoral dividends in the changed scenario in the Hindi heartland, where the BJP has a significant base.

 The fallout of the Gujarat crisis and the growing dissidence within the party is yet to be assessed in  electoral terms. And, in Karnataka groupism is taking hold. These expose the BJP's vulnerability on many counts.

 (Source: The Ploneer, 13 February, 1996)