Date:20/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/20/stories/2007072060161400.htm

National

It’s stocktaking time for BJP

Neena Vyas

Vajpayee authorised to take decision on Vice-Presidential candidate

The biggest shock came from Gujarat dissidence
Caution against entering another losing battle

NEW DELHI: With polling in the Presidential election over, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership was on Thursday counting the pluses and minuses of the high-pitched campaign it conducted.

The biggest shock came from Gujarat, where a number of party legislators publicly said they had voted for United Progressive Alliance candidate Pratibha Patil. The exact number of such dissidents was not immediately known. Central party leaders felt that their revolt had more to do with factional politics in the State. “If some MLAs have publicly stated they voted against the party decision to support Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the party will be constrained to take disciplinary action,” a BJP source said.

There were two views in the party: one the high-pitched campaign only exposed the fissures in the National Democratic Alliance with the Shiv Sena declaring its support for Ms. Patil and Trinamool Congress legislators deciding not to vote, barring a few exceptions.

Another cause for concern was the development in Karnataka, where sizeable Janata Dal (Secular) vote may have gone to Ms. Patil though the BJP is part of the ruling coalition. And, the public display of factionalism in Gujarat.

The second view — mostly held by the section led by Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani — is that the campaign served to expose the Congress once again to the charge that it could not find an untainted person even for the high office of President.

At the end of the day, NDA leaders — minus the Shiv Sena and the Trinamool — met at the residence of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and authorised him to take a decision on the NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate.

Informed sources said an influential section did not want the BJP to contest another losing battle. With the United National Progressive Alliance having already declared Rasheed Masood of the Samajwadi Party its candidate, there was virtually no winning chance for the NDA. However, after Thursday’s meeting, BJP leader V.K. Malhotra said the NDA would contest to win, not just to make a token presence.