Chautala’s INLD remains an ally, claims Venkaiah

Unlike its state unit, the BJP high command is treading cautiously on the issue of its alliance with Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of Harya...

Unlike its state unit, the BJP high command is treading cautiously on the issue of its alliance with Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Party president M. Venkaiah Naidu, when asked about the Haryana BJP core committee resolve at Panipat yesterday to work for a break-off with Chautala, said: ‘‘We are allies. So far, we have not revised our stand on the alliance (with INLD).’’ The two parties between themselves share five seats each from the state. Unless they part company, the arrangement of dividing the 10 seats is likely to continue.

Though the high command has its own perception of issues, it realises that an alliance at the national-level has to find its echo in the states for smooth sailing. A senior functionary said: ‘‘We had told our state leaders that cooperation at the Centre and operation (against each other) in a state would not work.’’ As of now, the Haryana BJP is all set to launch mass agitations against Chautala.

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The party has prepared the ground for it by levelling serious charges against the CM over mining licences, quarrying and Yamuna sand-lifting contracts.

A key Haryana BJP functionary told The Indian Express: ‘‘We have won three Assembly polls because of the anti-incumbency factor. Right now, Chautala is faced with a more intense anti-incumbency factor than Gehlot or Digvijay. We must distance ourselves from him, if we have to escape being bracketed with him.’’ Other reasons include Chautala’s victimisation of BJP leaders and a systematic effort to undermine the BJP support-base.

He said they would meet Deputy PM L.K. Advani, BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu, general secretary Pramod Mahajan and Law Minister Arun Jaitley to apprise them of their views. Thereafter, they would meet PM A.B. Vajpayee.

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