NATIONAL POLITICS

Ajay Singh on BJP's Dilemma

Despite the loss of its government, the general perception in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is that the party has gained in its defeat.

Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee has emerged head and shoulders above all other political leaders. The Vajpayee Government's decision to telecast the Lok Sabha proceedings is believed to be a master-stroke of party strategists.

In the Hindi heartland, the BJP did manage to strike an emotive chord. Party strategists are projecting the fall of the Vajpayee Government as yet another instance of persecution of "Hindutva"- the BJP's idea of cultural nationalism. Particularly in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Mr. Vajpayee's fall has generated sympathy from the vocal sections of the society.

As of now, it would be wrong to define the BJP as a political formation of only Brahmin-Bania combine.

The Hindutva forces have successfully co-opted a significant section of the OBC's to its fold.

In some way or the other, the BJP has proved its detractors wrong. Its phenomenal growth in the country's political landscape remains unhalted. Even without playing the aggressive Hindutva card, the party's gain in 1996 elections shows the coherent political strategy adopted by the Sangh Parivar.

Despite all these advantages to the BJP, the general apprehension is that the party is heading the Congress- way. Having established its political primacy in the 1996 elections, the BJP is as faction-ridden today as the Congress.

The (BJP) appears to be fighting to ward off the Frankenstein it has created. The exclusion of issues like the Mandir, the Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 from the President's speech only highlighted the BJP's dilemma. Clearly, BJP strategists have realized the "burden" of governing the country.

The BJP may have reaped rich political dividends from the Ayodhya imbroglio but its 13 day-Government developed cold feet on the issues when it came to crunch. "We have shelved the contentious issues in order to prepare a common minimum programme acceptable to our allies" said almost all BJP leaders in a chorus to defend the exclusion of contentious issues.

Vajpayee's projection is a calculated game-plan to fill the political vacuum caused by the exit of Nehru- Gandhi family from the political scene. Mr. Vajpayee's brahmin credentials and his conveniently moderate face help the BJP consolidate its position.

Obviously, BJP strategists' long cherished dream of replacing the Congress as the principal pole has come true. The BJP's next step is clearly aimed at enhancing its support base to a further 8 per cent in order to cruise at a comfortable and stable political orbit. "Once we get 30 per cent and more, it would be difficult to dislodge us" said a party General Secretary.

Clearly, the BJP is still playing up with emotions to consolidate its support base Having given a short-shrift whipped up on a soft, moderate and acceptable face of to contentious religious issues, the emotion this time is Hindutva – Vajpayee.

There is all probability that the BJP may gain by the recent turn of events. But this gain is unlikely to shed off the BJP's image of a political pariah. Its studied ambiguity on contentious issues like Ayodhya, growing factionalism and promotion of personality culture are jut the reflections of the party's dilemma.

Unlike the Congress, the BJP's decline in future may prove to be as fast as its emergence in a matter of less than a decade.

(Source: The Pioneer, 3 June, 1996)

VHP: National Convention, 7 June, 1996

A statement released a day after the conclusion of the VHP's 7-day National Convention was held in Telangur, near Madras, on June 7, 1996.

The Convention was inaugurated by Senior Shankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati and Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and was attended by 350 office bearers of VHP including the State presidents, State vice-presidents and State secretaries.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad:

opposed the proposed move of the United Front Government to refer the Ayodhya issue back to the Supreme Court under Article 138(2)

Called for a review by a higher bench of the Supreme Court's decision striking down the cow-protection law upheld by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Decided to observe the year 1997 as 'Akhand Bharat sankalp varsh'.

Decided to train 10,000 Hindu missionaries, half of them to come from among retired citizens.

Expressed concern at the fast undertaken by Shri Sunderlal Bahuguna and demanded that the Tehri dam project be stopped.

Decided to propagate the thoughts of Sri Aurobindo coming year the 125th birth anniversary.

(Source: The Organizer, 23 June, 1996)