After poem, Advani hums Atalji tune

In his concluding remarks, Leader of Opposition L K Advani tried to quell impressions of a power struggle within by endorsing A B Vajpayee as the supreme leader of the party. “I was very happy to find that his health had improved considerably since I had last met him. I, therefore, felt gratified when Rajnathji showed me Atalji’s own message saying that before long he would be in our midst. Let us all pray that this happens very soon and he continues to lead and guide us as in the past,” Advani said winding up his speech.

Vajpayee’s message that he would soon be back amongst workers was widely interpreted as his refusal to hand over the baton to Advani. The latter’s remarks were an attempt to put a lid over the controversy. On Saturday, Advani had showered praises on party president Rajnath Singh amid reports of tension between the two.

Advani told the meeting that the coordination within the Sangh parivar had improved from the low it had hit in the aftermath of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. He said the BJP must get maximum mileage out of this improved environment and expand its political base.

“The statement of VHP leader Ashok Singhal that all constituents of the Sangh are together on the Ram Sethu issue and senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi’s refusal to be drawn into a controversy over the leadership question are most evident examples of this better coordination between the Sangh and the BJP,” a senior leader said.

If the current political situation (particularly Sethu and Sachar issues) has pushed the Parivar to close ranks, the BJP is equally bullish about its prospective allies. In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa has informed the BJP of an agitation that she would lead on September 26 for “Sethu’s protection”. In Karnataka, JD(S) leader Deve Gowda has joined Sethu protests, aligning himself with the BJP’s position. In Assam, talks are on with the AGP. The BJP is confident that the AIADMK and supporting parties in Tamil Nadu, JD(S) in Karantaka and AGP in Assam will be on its side as the elections approach.

Advani’s speech reflected the line the BJP will take for election campaign. He said only the BJP had the “philosophy and style” to run a successful coalition Government, adding that the Congress was destabilising its own coalition through its “inflexible, indefensible and undemocratic stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal”. “Far from taking the nation and Parliament into confidence on an issue as vital as this, the Government could not even convince its own key allies,” he said.

Advani reiterated his opposition to the deal because it was on unequal terms, but said the BJP wanted friendly relations with America on equal terms.

Exhorting party cadres to take the message of “all that has happened in the Ram Sethu matter to every nook and corner of our country”, Advani said the Congress leadership withdrew the affidavit only because of the protest registered by the BJP and many other organisations.

He also accused the UPA of betraying the aam aadmi, particularly in terms of price rise of all essential commodities.

Calling “self-willed” the Government’s failure to fight terrorism, Advani said: “Our charge is that it has no will to counter terrorism with a firm hand because of its misplaced fear of losing minority votes.”