Tags:
Journalism of Courage
With most exit polls pointing to a UPA-NDA photo-finish,the BJP has decided that if the NDA emerges as the largest pre-poll alliance,it will stake claim even if its not the single-largest party. So banking on major gains its expecting from Bihar,the BJP began efforts to rope in new allies with two marathon sessions involving senior leaders,including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who was specially asked to join the meeting at the residence of the partys PM-candidate L K Advani.
It was decided that in case the NDA were to get more numbers than the now truncated UPA,no time should be wasted in staking claim to form the government. The leaders also discussed a range of potential allies,beginning with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
The unfolding scenario was best explained by AIADMK leader Dr V Maitreyan. When asked if his party was in touch with the BJP,he told The Indian Express: Let them (the BJP) get the numbers first. Our leader (Jayalalithaa) has already said that she would talk to people after May 16. The BJP-AIADMK backchannels are said to be active with the two sides exchanging notes on exit poll results.
The BJP also decided that JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav start talks with potential allies. So when NCP leader P A Sangma wanted to speak to the BJP on renewing the alliance in Meghalaya,Yadav was asked to meet him. The message from Yadav was that the BJP would expect Sangma to support the NDA when the time comes and the response was said to be positive.
The broad BJP template is that barring the Left and RJD,efforts must be made to reach out to every other party. The BJP is particularly working hard on TDP and party sources claim they got an assurance from Chandrababu Naidu just like the one from TRS and are positive he would make his preference clear at the right moment.
However,key to the BJPs plans are its efforts to rope in Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party. Party leaders feel that an NDA government isnt possible without either the BSP or the Samajwadi Party. Since the latter is almost ruled out,getting BSPs support holds the key.
To that effect,Modi drove to Murli Manohar Joshis residence it was during Joshis term as party president that Modi addressed a rally on Jan 26 in Srinagar. Mayawati is known to have a personal equation with Joshi and Lalji Tandon in the BJP while her aide Satish Chandra Mishra is known to be on good terms with BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley.
Later,Modi also called on veteran leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who had raised a banner of revolt against Advanis leadership a couple of months ago but came around just before the last phase of election. Shekhawat is known to have well-wishers in almost all parties and had counted on the support of Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh in his bid for the Presidential post last year. I have a personal rapport with Advani and I will do whatever is needed to strengthen the NDA, said Shekhawat.
Amar Singh,incidentally,was later spotted at the wedding reception of BJP president Rajanth Singhs adviser Sudhanshu Trivedi.
The Biju Janata Dal is the other party on which the BJP is,for the moment holding back its plan of action. Relying on feedback from its local unit,the BJP claims that the BJD which walked out of the alliance just before the polls will fall short of the halfway mark in the Assembly and will need BJPs support. This will make it easier to win the BJD over. If that does not happen,the BJP hopes that the BJD will see no option other than to back the NDA after the so-called Third Front splinters away as an alternative.
In sum,the BJP looks at its alliance building in three stages first,the existing NDA which must get more numbers than the present UPA; then the BJD,TDP and AIADMK as partners who they believe are unlikely to have much difficulty in taking a call once the NDA stakes claim and,thereafter,parties like the BSP,NCP and some others which would require a major push from not just BJP but even its allies like the JD(U).
