Considering the in-built instability of the coalition set-up at the Centre, doubts are bound to arise about its survival whenever there is a crisis ... The serious situation created by the ghastly Orissa incident ... has brought out its vulnerability ... It has besmirched India's image abroad ... That was a matter of great concern but the domestic fallout should be cause for a bigger worry to the leading constituent of the coalition, BJP. What stand out are not only the anger in the Opposition camp but also the revulsion among some of its allies and supporters. Not to be underestimated are the convulsions within the BJP.

... The implications of the tussle within the BJP have yet to be clearly known, though there could be no two opinions on their seriousness. That the cadre-based party, which used to take pride on its ideological commitment, is no longer its former cohesive self spoke for itself. This was evident from the public positions taken by different leaders. It is a different matter that even the most moderate among them may be regarded as apologists for the fascist methods adopted by some outfits of the Sangh Parivar. Vast sections in the country did not regard Vajpayee's fast on January 30, Gandhi martyrdom day, as an adequate response to a situation which warranted drastic handling. But the hawks in the Parivar make fun of the fast ... There is no trace of remorse among them over the killings and the tendency is to "balance" the ghastliness of the crime with references to "provocations" caused by alleged conversions of Hindus and to the "duplicity" of the Christians engaged in humanitarian and charitable activities.

What has sustained the Government in power is the inability of its opponents to put together a viable alternative. ... The rumblings and confusion within the Sangh Parivar ... may take the Government closer to collapse but would not take Mrs. Gandhi closer to a situation where she may revise the cautious approach. The alternative to the present Government is not a new Government, but a fresh election. How many parties in the Opposition are prepared for that?

The Congress(I), after its victories in the recent Assembly polls, is certainly a lot more confident ... Does it not show that the Congress(I) won the old constituencies -minorities and the deprived sections - which had deserted it? The Congress(1) leaders have put the most optimistic interpretations on the outcome of the Assembly polls as also on the stray pointers, thrown up by an Assembly by-election in UP. The party is tempted to treat it as a sign of recovery of lost ground in this crucial State, even though the same confidence is not evident in Bihar ... There is no firm enough basis for a gamble. This is the crux of the present peculiar situation. (Source: The Hindu, 1 February, 1999)