Ace strategist

In its latest issue, the Organiser profusely praises BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley for the way he handled elections...

In its latest issue, the Organiser profusely praises BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley for the way he handled elections in Karnataka. “BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley has won accolades for masterminding the party’s strategy to win elections in many states, some of which were very challenging and crucial, like Punjab, Gujarat and lately, Karnataka. He has emerged as an ace strategist, helping the party tide over adverse situations. He will certainly have a crucial role to play in working out the party’s electoral strategy for the coming elections (in J&K, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh before the end of the year and then the Lok Sabha elections in 2009),” it says.

In the interview Jaitley is quoted as saying, “The Karnataka results will have an impact on the elections of state assemblies and the national elections. It places BJP as a frontrunner for these elections. Its impact on the political environment is such that the Congress is losing a series of elections and the BJP and its allies are gaining a large number of them.” In response to another question, while lauding the Election Commission for preventing booth capturing, the BJP general secretary says, “I think the traditional form of campaign, such as pamphlets, banners and some hoardings, easy access to public rallies should be allowed. It is also a process through which political leadership can develop and get more acceptability.”

Debating secularism

The organ seconds party president Rajnath Singh’s call for a “nation-wide debate on secularism and its aberration” at the party’s recent national executive. Says the main editorial, “He (Rajnath) said the word has lost its meaning in the Indian context and it has to be made redundant. He is right and he could not have chosen a better occasion to raise this issue.” It goes on to add, “The word (secularism) has lost its meaning by its abuse. It means radical anti-Hinduism and aggressive Muslim appeasement in India. The word carries no credibility. As a consequence, it will lose its sanctity, like socialism even if it remains in the Constitution. But Rajnath Singh has a point. A debate on the subject is a good education. It will clear many misconceptions and help India define its national identity… In the Nineties, the then BJP national president L.K. Advani, in the wake of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement, triggered a positive and powerful debate on pseudo-secularism. It became very fruitful in the then political discourse and changed the exposition of contemporary ideological format…”

Gaining ground in Bengal

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A report claims that the BJP is gaining ground in rural areas in West Bengal. It says, “In the recently concluded Panchayat elections, the party captured two Zila Parishad seats in Malda and Birbhum. In addition, the party has wrested 184 seats in Panchayat Samitis and another 1,271 Gram Panchayat seats mostly from the ruling CPM.”

It adds, “The BJP candidates without their party symbol (lotus) won nine seats in Samitis and 159 seats in Gram Panchayats. As a result, four Panchayat Samitis will be directly under the BJP against only one in the last 2003 Panchayat elections in the state. Moreover, there will be 76 BJP pradhans in the lowest tier of Panchayati Raj.”

It goes on to say “The results of the seventh Panchayat elections in the state have clearly showed that the BJP has its support base in all the 17 districts of West Bengal. However, success of the Opposition in rural Bengal against the ruling CPM is only the beginning of a long bitter tussle to end the misrule of the communists in the state. True, there will be polling in six or seven municipalities on June 29. But the real trial of strength will be witnessed only in the Lok Sabha poll scheduled to be held early next year.”