For BJP’s allies, the four former PMs look pretty attractive

Nitish Kumar’s visit has raised eyebrows in political circles, particularly as Chandra Shekhar — and H D Deve Gowda — were allies of Laloo Yadav’s RJD in the recent elections in Bihar.

With Rabri Devi in the saddle in Patna, and a fluid political situation in Bihar, there is no knowing what Nitish Kumar may do in the future. That is a feeling in a section of the NDA. Once the Bihar Government settles down, Laloo will stalk around for support, wanting to reduce his dependence on the Congress. The Samata Party, out of power, is vulnerable.

Whether or not the four former PMs make a difference to existing political equations, they come as a boon to the BJP’s allies. As a potential political pole, real or illusory, they will go towards strengthening the bargaining position of the non-BJP parties in the NDA, if nothing else.

Equally noteworthy are the overtures being made by the Left parties to V P Singh. Singh and the other three former PMs are slated to go to Calcutta on May 4 for a public meeting and expected to meet Chief Minister Jyoti Basu there. Basu has already welcomed the initiative of the four ex-PMs.

Continuing with his wooing of the Left parties, Singh on Tuesday morning called on Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar, who sat on a dharna at Delhi’s Patel Chowk to protest against the weakening of the PDS, to express his solidarity with the agitating leader. I K Gujral also went there to express his support.

Two days ago, CPM leader Somnath Chatterji had met V P Singh at Apollo Hospital, where the latter was undergoing dialysis, and was with him for an hour, discussing the state of the nation. Earlier A B Bardhan and Harkishen Singh Surjeet had accompanied Singh when he had met the Prime Minister raising the issue of the slum dwellers and the way they were being uprooted without giving them alternative sites. Singh was invited to inaugurate the annual convention of the democratic Youth Federation of India, a youth body affiliated with the CPM, in Thiruvananthapuram.

CPM leaders say they have no hesitation with cooperating with anyone who is fighting for secularism and against price rise and the review of the Constitution.

The four former PMs have made it clear that they do not intend either to form a party or create a platform. Sensing the growing frustration in the country on issues like rising prices and cut in subsidies, they plan to go around and get a feel of the mood of the people.

To begin with, they have organised hall meetings in various state Capitals, beginning with Calcutta early May. The modus operandi, however, is somewhat similar to what it was in the early days of 1987, when Singh had launched his Jan Morcha. Local organisations are inviting them to come and speak, or a number of NGOs are joining hands to form a reception committee. In Calcutta, for instance, a 51-member “Save Democracy” committee has been cobbled together which will act host to them.