Advani launches poll battle

Advani’s address to party chiefs and general secretaries was beamed on TV channels to take the message to BJP cadres. It also brought the focus on Advani the first time after days of media campaign concentrated on Vajpayee.

Advani, however, lent a touch of finesse, projecting the persona of Vajpayee vis-a-vis Sonia. Referring to Sonia’s remark on Vajpayee’s poetry, he said: ‘‘I am at a loss whether to get angry or feel pity for her remarks. Such arrogance in politicians cannot be tolerated by people. I can only express a sense of pity for her. I think we deserve a better political rival.’’

Turning to Ayodhya, he said: ‘‘If not today, at least in the near future, the Ram temple construction will be possible through a mutually agreeable settlement.’’

Advani had two successes at the national executive — he got the Lok Sabha polls advanced and his protege, party chief M. Venkaiah Naidu, obtained the blessings of Vajpayee for a re-election — a major feat in the backdrop of the Lauh Purush-Vikas Purush controversy.

His re-election certain, Naidu decided to convene a meeting of the national council on February 6 for the purpose. Pending this, he unveiled a campaign calender packed with 116 public meetings by the party’s top 10 from January 23.

This notwithstanding, there are a few loose ends to be tied up. The incumbency of two allies — Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and Om Prakash Chautala in Haryana — is worrying. There is no alternative to the TDP while a break-off with Chautala would attract Opposition taunts. Negotiations are underway with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu but Karnataka is unlikely to deliver. There is no deal with the AGP in Assam while the party is in a spot over Kalyan Singh in UP.