Vajpayee breathes easy

By Harish Khare

NEW DELHI, MARCH 26. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is reported to be in a buoyant mood, especially after the successful rally staged by the NDA yesterday as well as by the show of solidarity at the BJP's national executive over the weekend.

``The PM's morale is high,'' according to one aide who met Mr. Vajpayee this morning.

The ruling coalition's strategists sense that slowly they are getting an upper hand in the battle of public perceptions in the wake of the Tehelka developments.

They have in particular noted, with satisfaction, that the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, has decided to take off for Hong Kong for three days, presumably to keep a prior appointment with the Indian community.

Ms. Gandhi's departure from the ``battle scene'' has given heart to the NDA camp. Ms. Gandhi's decision is seen as incongruous with a party that only a few days ago threatened to ``wage every battle'' against the Government.

The calculation is that the Congress would find it difficult to sustain the ``street show'', now that the parliamentary arena is not available to the Opposition, at least during the current session's recess period which lasts till April 15.

The Prime Minister's people are rather satisfied that the ever difficult Sangh Parivar factions have been made to see reason.

Various Parivar voices have spoken out in support of the Prime Minister, though there is the realisation that some more fire- fighting against the Jhandewalan crowd would be required.

More than the hint of support from the RSS or the VHP, or even the Shiv Sena quarters, the unity of purpose exhibited at the BJP national executive has lifted Mr. Vajpayee's spirits.

Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi's anointment as full-time party president suits Mr. Vajpayee well.

Moreover, the party endorsed the Government's economic policies. There was a closing of ranks at the BJP conclave, perhaps backed by a belated realisation that if the NDA was to stay put and stay together, then the BJP must be united.

The Tehelka-induced scandal had revived the talk of the `Advani camp' ready to take advantage of the unfavorable spotlight on the PMO.

In some quarters, the Union Home Minister himself was suspected of not being entirely unhappy over Mr. Vajpayee's discomfort.

In recent days, the favorite pastime in the capital's political parlours once again was to try to figure out which Cabinet Minister was in which camp.

It has been noted that some of the so-called Advani camp- followers have been making a vigorous defence of the Prime Minister and his aides. This camp- talk, so loud last week, has become muted considerably.

The judgment among the NDA strategists is that Ms. Gandhi has committed herself to an implacably hostile attitude towards the Government; on its part the Government is reported to be prepared to return the compliment, and the CBI action against Mr. Vincent George, Ms. Gandhi's aide, may be just the beginning.

Nonetheless, the Government may find it difficult to pursue any activist agenda, at least till after the Assembly poll in five States.

In particular, there would be problem in clearing the legislative calender, given the ruling coalition's minority status in the Rajya Sabha. In other words, the Government's crisis may be over, but the crisis of governance may have just begun.

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