Search the Internet          Tips

BJP reacts cautiously to PMK pullout

The sudden resignationsof the Pattali Makkal Katchi Union ministers from the ruling National Democratic Alliance government on Monday triggered a defensive reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party with senior party leaders maintaining that the "stability" of the Vajpayee government would not be affected.

"First we have to determine whether the prime minister has accepted the resignations of the PMK ministers," senior party leader K Jana Krishnamurthy pointed out.

He underlined that while no hasty conclusions should be drawn regarding the PMK's "exit" from the ruling NDA coalition, the Vajpayee government was on " firm ground " as far as the arithmetic in the Lok Sabha is concerned.

The NDA government has a combined strength of 309 in the lower house with the PMK having five seats. Even if the prime minister were to accept the resignations of Union Ministers of State N T Shanmugham (Coal) and E Ponnuswamy (Petroleum) he would be sitting pretty with a comfortable strength of 304 MPs in the 542-member house.

BJP leader Narendra Modi also cautioned against "making political predictions before the scenario becomes clear."

"The prime minister has to indicate whether he has accepted the resignations of the two PMK ministers or not. Only then can one paint the picture after taking the relevant facts into consideration," Modi pointed out.

However, senior government officials, including those from the Prime Minister's Office, were not available for comment.

However, with Shanmugham telling reporters that the reason for the resignations will be outlined in Madras Tuesday, the BJP leadership has gone into a huddle.

"Of course, we feel that the resignations are due to local factors. But since it does affect the stability of the NDA government, the party is likely to take stock of the situation Monday evening," said a veteran BJP worker at the party headquarters.

He indicated that Prime Minister Vajpayee, Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and others senior BJP leaders were likely to meet at 7, Race Course Road to ascertain the political fallout of the PMK's move.

He also pointed out that the PMO was in touch with the PMK leadership in Madras to persuade it not to take "such a drastic step a fortnight before the Budget session of Parliament".

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report