Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Infighting in the BJP

The present round of infighting in the BJP, coming barely weeks after the electoral victory in Bihar, is bound to dent the party's image. The BJP used Uma Bharti's oratorical skills and charisma to oust Digvijay Singh who was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for10 years.

Sidelining her now against what appears to be the wish of a majority of MLAs will only sow the seeds of discord and instability in the party and the Government. But Ms. Bharti's response of raking up the Ram temple issue once again is not going to advance her cause. She does not seem to have learnt the lessons from her Tiranga yatra.

N. Sivaraman,
Kancheepuram, T.N.

The BJP, once considered a disciplined party, has in recent times witnessed many internal squabbles. This does not augur well for a party that aspires to come to power at the Centre. The BJP should set its house in order before it is too late.

B. Vishwanatha Rao,
Hyderabad

Ms. Bharti's opposition to the manner in which she was sidelined by the BJP high command was right though she conveyed it the wrong way. She certainly deserves praise for standing up to the party leadership for imposing a Chief Minister without taking into account the wishes of the State legislators.

Shanky Kothari,
Indore, M.P.

The crisis triggered in the BJP by the Uma Bharti episode makes one wonder how a party that spends most of its time trying to set its house in order can find the time to concentrate on people's issues.

M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan, T.N.

This is not the first time Uma Bharti has embarrassed the BJP. She has been rightly suspended from the party. Revoking her suspension the last time round was a blunder. The party must deal with her firmly this time if it wants to send the right signal to rebels.

Brajesh Kumar,
New Delhi

Ms. Bharti's defiance is quite alarming for an already divided party. It is time the party's central leadership acted tough to stop her in her tracks.

Anish Sebastian,
Muvattupuzha, Kerala

The BJP's fortunes have been steadily on the decline. The bickering in the party has become so common that it no longer surprises anyone. The shabby treatment meted out to Ms. Bharti by the party high command shows that it is out of tune with reality. If such highhandedness continues, the BJP will go the Congress way.

Abhishek Mishra,
New Delhi

The BJP no longer has the locus standi to criticise the Congress on lack of internal democracy. Imposing a Chief Minister without regard for the opinion of the MLAs is an unhealthy practice.

N. Jayaraj,
Chennai

Ms. Bharti has been wronged. She constituted the one-woman army that dislodged the 10-year-old Congress Government in the State. It is obvious that she is victim of the high-handedness of the central leadership.

R.A. Khan,
Lucknow

The firebrand leader has been humiliated by the BJP. The party used her to win the elections in the State but did not give her a due share of power. Ms. Bharti's revolt may prove costly for the party. She has all the ingredients of a tall leader.

S. Anand,
Hyderabad

What was the harm in bringing back Ms. Bharti as Chief Minister? She was responsible for the BJP's victory. She has the right to claim the post. She is one of the few mass leaders that the BJP has now. She may be unconventional but she has popular support. Does the BJP really think that it can win with the help of election managers and computers? Success comes from the hard work of grassroots leaders like Ms. Bharti.

J.M. Anand,
Chennai

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