The Hindu : 'I am a disciplined party soldier'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 28, 2002

National

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'I am a disciplined party soldier'

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI JUNE 27. There was a hint that the Bharatiya Janata Party president, Jana Krishnamurthi, could refuse the Cabinet position offered today by the Prime Minister and just quit his position as party president. Many believe that if he were to do this the party would be in a crisis situation.

``I personally do not think there is any need for me to join the Government as there is already enough talent there'', Mr. Krishnamurthi told reporters, even as he added that ``this did not mean he was insisting on sticking to his position as party president''. He emphasised that he certainly did not want to become a ``hurdle'' in the way of the party revamp plans of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Home Minister, L.K. Advani.

Mr. Krishnamurthi said that throughout his life he had ``never found any difficulty in leaving any position'', after all he had refused a governorship offer in the past. The hint was that he was inclined to refuse the Cabinet berth, but had not taken any decision. ``When I take a decision I will convey it to the Prime Minister and let you know,'' he told reporters. He added though that he was a disciplined soldier of the party who had always taken up whatever responsibility was given to him.

The shadow of the ``crisis'' looming over the party is that effectively Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani have been seen to have belittled their own party president publicly after having been instrumental in installing him just a year ago. Also if Mr. Krishnamurthi were to quit and refuse a Cabinet position, certainly there would be a lot of criticism among the party cadre about the manner in which an elected party president was being forced out.

There is also the view that the entire plan for a party revamp could fall through as there would be an adverse political fallout for the party if Mr. Krishnamurthi were to refuse the Cabinet position offer, and just pack up his bags and leave for Chennai. The thinking at the top does not seem very clear on this as the expectation is that Mr. Krishnamurthi will be ``persuaded'' to accept a Cabinet position.

The questions being asked in the party are: if Mr. Krishnamurthi is being indirectly blamed for the recent electoral defeats, what about the responsibility of the ``big two'' who took all the crucial decisions? It is also being pointed out that the shocking defeat of the party in U.P. could hardly be laid at the door of Mr. Krishnamurthi, when Mr. Vajpayee himself was the main campaigner in the state.

There is also the view that the current episode has also exposed the power struggle among the second-rung party leaders — some of them had privately conveyed to Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani that they did not want to work in a subordinate position to Mr. Krishnamurthi.

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