The Hindu : U.P. BJP sees a chance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 06, 2002

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National

U.P. BJP sees a chance

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW MARCH 5. Contradictory statements made by the caretaker Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, over the role of the BJP in the formation of the next Government in the State have put him in an embarrassing situation.

The first reaction of the BJP leaders after the electoral defeat was that the party had decided to sit in the Opposition. Mr. Singh went on saying for several days that the party wanted the so-called secular parties to provide a stable government. As no other party was prepared for a tie-up with the BJP , it appeared to have little chance of capturing power. Reports that secret parleys were going on between the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to form a coalition government were promptly denied by the leaders of both parties.

But, as the Governor continued to explore the possibilities of constituting a stable government and weighing the claims of the Samajwadi Party whose leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, had already staked his claim to form the Government, Mr. Singh surprised everyone with a statement on Sunday that the BJP could consider claiming power, provided other parties were ready to extend unconditional support to it. The statement was endorsed by the State BJP unit chief, Kalraj Mishra.

This once again led to speculation that the BJP was negotiating with the BSP to form an alliance government. The impression was that despite the defeat, the ``power-hungry BJP'' was not ready to accept the role of Opposition. As the two leaders realised the implications of their statements, they sought to correct themselves, reiterating that the BJP stand to sit in the Opposition was unchanged. But the question being asked is what prompted them in the first place to talk of unconditional support from other parties, when the BJP had already decided to sit in the Opposition.

As it has become almost clear that the Samajwadi Party has been unable to secure majority support in the Assembly, the BSP, the BJP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal having already announced their decision not to support Mulayam Singh Yadav, the imposition of President's rule has become a possibility. But given the impatience of the elected MLAs to have a taste of power, political parties would find it hard to keep the Assembly in suspended animation for long.

The coming weeks are expected to witness hectic political activity to create a viable combination. If the BJP succeeds in creating a combination at this point, it may return to power. Maybe the party leaders have begun talking of unconditional support from others only at this stage.

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