Socialists not capable of unified front, says BJP

Smaller parties, chafing at the Big Brotherly attitude of the BJP, however welcome the idea hoping, as a BJD leader said today, that the proposed front will “enhance bargaining power.”

George had floated the idea at his party’s national executive meeting yesterday. But leaders like Shakuni Chaudhury said that a common manifesto would undermine the party’s identity.

Incidentally, the BJP had announced that all allies would accept a National Agenda for Governance as the common manifesto but no ally has reacted so far. BJP leaders, too, deflated the trial balloon. “Smaller parties have their independent presence and power in a coalition. But if they merge into a front,they would lose both their identity and power” said general secretary Narendra Modi.

A section of the Samata claims that Fernandes’s plan may work if there’s a fractured verdict again. “The front led by George or some other senior Socialist leader, could then stake claim to form Government with BJP’s help,” a Samata leader said.

This could be the reason for the BJP to outrightly reject George’s proposal citing several impediments in its becoming a reality. “Will veterans like Chandra Shekhar accept George’s leadership?” asked a BJP general secretary. “Will socialists like Mulayam Singh Yadav be amenable to have relations with the BJP?” asked another.

But the Lok Shakti welcomed the proposal. “It’s in the right direction. Certainly, we will take it in the positive manner,” party spokesman M Raghupathy said. The Janata Dal, another party singled out by the Samata yesterday was sceptical. “My appeal to Fernandes is to first get rid of the BJP and then really try for a third force of socialists,”party secretary general Bapu Kaldate said. “Instead of scouting around on behalf of the BJP, Fernandes should initiate the move for unity among socialist forces, which is the need of the hour,” he said.