The Hindu : Fernandes decision triggers debate in Samata

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 04, 2002

National

National

Fernandes decision triggers debate in Samata

By. K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI SEPT. 3. The decision of the Samata Party president and Defence Minister, George Fernandes, to oppose the Vajpayee Government's disinvestment policy has triggered a debate within the party. Also, its overall direction has come in for an animated discussion.

Mr. Fernandes' move to once again take over the reins of the party follows the growing dissidence in the party in Bihar and Jharkhand, where it has a formidable political stake.

The changing equations within the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the effect of these altering relations on the ambitions of the Samata leader combined to prompt the change of guard.

Even though Mr. Fernandes has launched an attack on the disinvestment policy, a section of the party including a sizeable number of MPs, feels that such criticism would not send the right signals.

The argument being that an attack on government policies from within does not make the party's reservations credible.

Apparently, on the eve of the national executive last week, some MPs such as Arun Kumar, Manjay Lal, Rajiv Ranjan `Lallan' Singh and Bashist Narain, along with a Union Minister, felt concerned enough to meet informally to discuss the party's thrust and the direction of its relations with the BJP.

On disinvestment, the dominant view was that the party should have come out with its standpoint at the time the Vajpayee Government was embarking on its implementation, and even at this late stage opposition to it would carry greater force, if voiced from outside the system.

In the executive meeting, many of these MPs remained silent on the issue, more as a mark of protest rather than acceptance.

Even though the Samata Party had stuck with the BJP in Gujarat, there are differences in the party over the manner in which Narendra Modi handled the riots.

The Samata's approach in Gujarat in the context of the Assembly elections with regard to the BJP would be finalised at the party's national council meeting, scheduled to be held in Rajkot towards the end of the month.

Party observers were of the view that apart from the need to quell dissidence — with the Bihar unit eager to join hands with the Janata Dal (United) and take over the opposition leadership in the State Assembly and the continuing feud with the Jharkhand Chief Minister, Babu Lal Marandi — the power shift at the Centre was a factor that led to Mr. Fernandes taking over as chief.

In addition to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, he has to keep the equation right with the other power centre, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani.

Interestingly, the 18-month tenure of V.V. Krishna Rao as president was equally tough and one of tumult for the party.

Having come to the helm when Jaya Jaitly had to resign as president on account of Tehelka, Mr. Rao had to steer the party through the Gujarat riots, the Samata's flip-flop, Mr. Fernandes re-induction into Union Cabinet and the continuing Opposition boycott in Parliament.

In the days to come, observers believe that the party has to find a balance between Mr. Fernandes' political ambition and the organisation's long-term growth and prosperity.

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