BJP walks tightrope between DMK, ADMK

Naidu also seems to have complicated the situation by stating that the BJP’s existing allies (like the AIADMK) would be consulted on the inclusion of new parties (read the DMK) when it is apparent even to a political novice that the AIADMK would oppose the DMK’s entry tooth and nail.

Again, the BJP’s assurances of inclusion of some AIADMK nominees in the nextround of Cabinet expansion, have been seen in DMK circles as an attempt to mollify the AIADMK instead of making attempts to jettison Jayalalitha’s party. With Jayalalitha in no position to withdraw the AIADMK’s support to the BJP-led Government at the moment, as the Congress is not yet ready to form an alternative government, the AIADMK is set to continue its support to the Vajpayee Government at least till November.

Realising the BJP’s reluctance to abandon the ADMK and disown the temple activity, the DMK is not ready to lose the bird in hand.

Capitalising on the BJP’s predicament, CPM leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet and the CPI’s A B Bardhan have partially succeeded in narrowing the gap between the Left and the DMK on the question of support to the Congress at the Centre, following separate meetings with Karunanidhi in Chennai over the last three days.

Surjeet and Bardhan used their presence in Chennai to the hilt and mounted Operation Conciliation in the last three days. The Left parties wereinitially taken aback by Karunanidhi’s statement on September 14 that he was prepared to back the BJP provided it proved it was secular.

Vajpayee reciprocated by indicating that the BJP was ready to accept the DMK’s support and asserting that the BJP was a secular party. The BJP and the DMK had appeared to go more than half-way to meeting each other’s point of view for a closer relationship. To the extent that the Left criticised the DMK’s “pro-BJP” tilt.

Though Karunanidhi has not clearly spelt out his party’s national strategy, the BJP’s insistence on building a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya is one of the provocations for Karunanidhi’s statement to the press today that the BJP would find it difficult to prove it is secular, given its commitment for building the temple.

Karunanidhi has also faulted the BJP for not giving up its Hindutva ideology. While maintaining that the Congress could be considered secular, the BJP did not fit into the category of a secular party, heasserted.

Karunanidhi’s outburst against the Communists four days ago, he now maintains, was out of anger that he was not consulted by the Left before their pronouncement that they would back a Congress Government to end BJP rule at the Centre.

Whether the BJP will make a significant change in its stand on the Ayodhya issue or take some decisive moves against the AIADMK to woo the DMK again, will be keenly watched by the national political parties.