Vajpayee likely to solve BJP-INLD row

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH, JAN. 19. Even as the Haryana unit of the BJP and the ruling Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana failed to reach an understanding over sharing of seats for the coming State Assembly polls, highly-placed sources here claimed that the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, had been ``authorised'' to find a solution to the impasse. Meanwhile, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, INLD supremo and Chief Minister, announced his decision to re-contest from his traditional Rori constituency in Sirsa district.

According to political observers, the Congress has got a headstart over the INLD-BJP as it has not only started the process of finalising its candidates for the 90-Assembly seats but also forged a workable unity of sorts among the top leaders who were at loggerheads.The BJP, bolstered by its win in five of the 10 Lok Sabha seats, is adamant that it should get at least 35 seats as per a secret arrangement which was ostensibly worked out between the BJP top brass and the Devi Lal clan before the former approved Mr. Chautala's decision to dissolve the Assembly prematurely. However, Mr. Chautala is equally determined not to allow more than 25 seats to the BJP.

The Chief Minister has been maintaining that only winning candidates - of INLD or BJP - should be fielded instead of getting into the `numbers game.'

Interestingly, the State unit BJP leaders are not only threatening to contest independently on all the 90 seats but they have announced the names of a few candidates in retaliation. This seems to have irked Mr. Chautala. But political observers are optimistic that the Prime Minister and Mr. Chautala would resolve the issue amicably soon as it is a political compulsion for both parties to remain together in order to face a united Congress. The scenario is going to be quite different from what it was during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

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