The Hindu : BJP gets tough with allies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 18, 2002

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BJP gets tough with allies

By Neena Vyas and K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI APRIL 17. The Bharatiya Janata Party has sent across a tough message to its allies — fall in line or face the consequences.

At a meeting of the parliamentary floor managers of the National Democratic Alliance parties here today, the BJP let it be known that it would not accept a discussion in Gujarat under a substantive motion. Indirectly, it asked its allies to fall in line.

The Telugu Desam Party, which is not in the NDA, naturally did not attend, nor did the leaders of the Trinamool Congress. The TDP leader, Yerran Naidu, later indicated that his party had already taken the stand that it would accept a discussion under "any rule.'' He said his party was happy to note that no decision had been taken yet on dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly — it was against early elections in the midst of a communally-polarised situation — and insisted that there was no dilution in the TDP demand for the removal of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

It was decided that the NDA floor managers would also meet tomorrow before Parliament met to draw up the day's strategy to counter the Opposition onslaught on Gujarat.

Reports suggest that the BJP's parliamentary managers have been individually contacting the leaders of the NDA allies, especially Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, Ram Vilas Paswan (Lok Janshakti Party) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U). Dark hints have been thrown that in the next major Cabinet reshuffle, which could take place after the budget session, Ministers may have to part with their portfolios. After all, the senior BJP leaders, Keshubhai Patel, (removed as Chief Minister, Gujarat) and Rajnath Singh (former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) may have to be accommodated in the Union Cabinet, the BJP leaders noted. The message conveyed was that if the allies failed to fall in line, they could be shifted to unimportant Ministries.

The BJP leaders said that already their "action'' had yielded results — the Samata Party had made a `U-turn' even before the BJP's Goa executive committee meeting. The Samata spokesperson's demand for the removal of Mr. Modi was virtually withdrawn and Ms. Banerjee had also issued a statement that in a vote her party would vote with the Government (though it would continue to demand Mr. Modi's ouster). The Lok Janshakti Party and the JD (U) are also expected to fall in line. The leaders also pointed out that a State Government's conduct could not be a matter of discussion and put to vote in Parliament. It would set a wrong precedent. The BJP could also insist on motions against the Rajasthan or the West Bengal Government.

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