Laloo puts BJP in a spot over Vananchal

As for the dismissal of the Rabri Ministry, Home Minister L K Advani had indicated it in recent weeks and BJP functionaries, like party chief Kushabhau Thakre and K N Govindacharya, have openly been advocating it.

Advani met K RNarayanan — when Prime Minister A B Vajpayee was away — to apprise him of the “administrative and financial collapse” in Bihar which necessitated such a step. There were indications that the President may not obstruct such a step.

The corridors of North Block were abuzz that the Cabinet decision may come on September 21 after the President returns from his trip abroad and before Vajpayee leaves for the United Nations.

Vajpayee, who is believed to have reservations on the use of Article 356, could not oppose the pressure from the Samata Party and a section of his party. So he tried to buy time in Lucknow, saying that the Government would take a decision soon.

In the meantime, a counter-offensive started to build up led by Parkash Singh Badal with Ramakrishna Hegde joining him. Farooq Abdullah and Dravidian leaders Vaiko and Ramdoss too opposed the use Article 356.

Those in the BJP pushing for dismissal say the party has three compulsions. One, to prevent the upper castes in north Bihar from lookingtowards the Congress. Two, a win in Bihar — and Madhya Pradesh — may offset the possibility of a defeat in Delhi and Rajasthan in the forthcoming polls. And, three, an election in Bihar would skirt the constitutional necessity of getting President’s rule ratified by Parliament within two months, something not possible in the Rajya Sabha, given the strength of the BJP and its allies.

As for the Congress, it’s in the unenviable position of being caught between two poles and not able to take a clear stand. It is not against Vananchal, but it will not bring down Laloo’s Government on it. It will oppose the dismissal of the Rabri Government and the imposition of Article 356 but it attacked “casteist parties” at Pachmarhi (directed at Mulayam and Laloo), signalled its unwillingness to align with them in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Ultimately, it may hope to go along with Laloo in North Bihar and with the Jharkand Mukti Morcha in South Bihar. The signals this complex position sends are too confusing to yieldelectoral dividends for the Congress.