Opinion BJP: Topple ready,topple shy
The foremost among these is the Samajwadi Party.
The BJP decision not to try and pull down the UPA government over the opening up of retail to FDI and the rise in fuel prices is based on a recalibration in strategy after weighing the reactions of other parties.
The foremost among these is the Samajwadi Party. Despite joining the Opposition bandh against the government,Mulayam Singh Yadav has made it clear that the distance between him and the communal BJP remains wider. Other parties such as the BSP,BJD and TDP will have the same opposition to any truck with the BJP.
The BJP remains conscious of this,particularly after its failure to rope in new partners during the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Hence,it has decided that for the time being,its best option is to take the back seat and let others take the initiative as long as it culminates into a joint action such as the Bharat bandh to put the UPA government on the mat.
Meanwhile,it is hoping that its demand for a special session of Parliament fructifies,as that would force parties sitting on the fence to take sides,perhaps exposing the governments numerical minority on the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail,an issue on which there is wider agreement among the Opposition.
Even that remains a long shot though as the Left may not want to burn its fingers like it did by forcing the UPA to go in for a majority test over the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008. The BJPs best hope then remains Mamata Banerjee,but given her mercurial ways,it cannot be sure of her support for any no-confidence vote.
Incidentally,there is no debate within the party on its own reformist credentials. Despite its all-out opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal,for example,it was the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government that had come forward to offer a location for setting up a nuclear power project in collaboration with US companies. Once the dust settles,it would be interesting to see which BJP state takes the lead in welcoming FDI-backed retail stores.
ravish.tiwari@expressindia.com
Share
