BJP dangles expansion carrot

The anti-Kalyan Singh faction in the UP unit of the BJP is particularly active. It is trying to come to an arrangement with the BSP in UP to link the ouster of Kalyan Singh to the survival of the Vajpayee Government at the Centre.

The plan floated by this faction envisages a change of guard in UP at the behest of the BSP–which has a long-standing feud with Kalyan Singh–in return for the BSP’s support to both the Vajpayee Government in Delhi and the BJP Government in Lucknow.

In fact, the anti-Kalyan faction is trying to convince the BSP that it should ask for Kalyan to be replaced by Tourism Minister Kalraj Mishra who enjoys an excellent rapport with Mayawati. And in turn the BSP should offer to support the BJP at the Centre and share power in Lucknow.

This plan is yet to get the PM’s sanction. Those behind the plan argue that both parties have realised that their share of the vote in Uttar Pradesh has remained “stagnant” and the only way to sweep the polls is by getting together.

But Kalyan has launched a counter-offensive against Kalraj Mishra and Lalji Tandon who he feels are fanning dissension. The Chief Minister is learnt to have collected “evidence” of alleged corruption by Ministers who are supporting the dissidents.

Today, several of his ministers rallied behind him. In a joint statement, they said: “Kalyan Singh was working in the larger interest of the people and those opposing him were trying to bring instability in the state at the juncture when all partymen should unitedly work for betterment of the party.

Both Tandon and Kalraj too decided to hit back. “This is shocking and condemnable. The central leadership should immediately take notice of the happenings in the state BJP,” said Mishra.

Meanwhile, in the wooing of Chautala, the BJP has turned to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and old faithful Madan Lal Khurana. It saw a ray of hope in Chautala’s decision to make an unscheduled visit to the Capital tonight with Badal. Efforts were also on to persuade the Jat leader to meet Vajpayee. But Chautala is playing hard to get.

Speaking to The Indian Express after his arrival in the city tonight, he said: “This Government should go. They haven’t done anything, except for looting and plundering.”

He claimed he had come to the Capital to attend the Khalsa stamp release function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. “I don’t intend to meet the Prime Minister,” he said.

But BJP leaders still feel hopeful. Khurana exuded confidence that he would win Chautala over. “I have already spoken to him twice…he listened to me seriously.”

The Government has also expedited efforts to woo the DMK. After accepting the resignations last night of the two AIADMK ministers, M Thambi Durai and K M R Janarthanan, it also sought to persuade the DMK to support the Government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“By this action, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has sought to send two signals simultaneously–that his Government had more or less shut its doors on its Tamil Nadu ally, and that he was now willing to talk to the DMK for support,” a senior Cabinet Minister told The Indian Express. Senior leaders of the ruling coalition, it is learnt, are in touch with their DMK counterparts both in New Delhi and Chennai.

In fact, Union Home Minister L K Advani today telephonically contacted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi and sought the six-member DMK group’s support when a no-confidence motion is moved. Sources said Karunanidhi did not give any promise to the BJP leader on voting against the motion.