The Hindu : Conversion scheme a shot in the arm for BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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Conversion scheme a shot in the arm for BJP

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 20. It is being termed as a whiff of fresh air in the vastly disillusioned BJP camp. The nod by the Union Cabinet for the proposal to extend the leasehold-to-freehold conversion scheme for commercial, industrial and mixed land use properties in the Capital could well signal the beginning of more such sops in a crucial election year.

In fact, the latest announcement could well be termed as a partial victory for the Delhi BJP president, Madan Lal Khurana, who has been lobbying hard with the Central leadership for taking certain "people-friendly'' decisions in order to face the electorate well before the elections. Political observers here are of the view that the Madan Lal Khurana bandwagon could well be on the roll and during the next two months witness a spate of such decisions aimed at wooing the electorate. The Union Cabinet's decision has been welcomed by the BJP rank and file and suddenly things seemed to have come alive in the BJP camp.

Mr. Khurana, who right now away in Hyderabad, could not be contacted for his comments. But the latest announcement should gladden Mr. Khurana who has been quite agitated so far at the slow pace of implementation of his demands by the Union Urban Development Ministry. Many in the BJP said this was only the tip of the iceberg and there were much more comprehensive things to come including the regularisation of unauthorised colonies and regularisation of industrial units in residential areas. Although, power and water shortage would be the crux of our campaign, but once these decisions start flowing, a proper atmosphere would be created pitting the BJP at part with the Congress.

Insiders in the BJP said the effort of the party would be to create a hype during the next two months and then suddenly unleashed an electric campaign to unsettle the ruling Congress. Although, the Sangharsh Committee has been formed under the leadership of South Delhi MP, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, to lead the agitation against the Sheila Dikshit Government, but the real action is expected to begin by July when Mr. Khurana is expected go launch an assault against the Congress and its Government in Delhi. "Till now the focus has been on direct Khurana-Sheila tussle. This will be turned around and things would be taken up at the party level in order to give a further impetus to the agitation against the Sheila Dikshit Government and the Congress as such,'' a senior BJP leader remarked.

The election activity will hot up only after July and by then the outcome of the power and water situation would be known to all. The Congress should have no illusions about its position and standing. In fact, senior BJP leaders are of the view that infighting within the Delhi Congress is expected to intensify in the coming days and this would directly benefit the BJP which is expected to turn aggressive as soon as majority of its demands are fulfilled and notified by the Union Government. "We will make the election a tough battle for the Congress. They are a totally divided house and this would work to our advantage. The sharp differences between the ruling Congress Government and party will have its impact on the electoral strategy of the party and the BJP would be watching the whole situation very carefully. We will plan our strategy in such a manner as to take the Congress by surprise,'' a senior party leader remarked.

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