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BJP executive meet will take serious view of Jaya's allegations

The newly constituted national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is meeting at Jaipur for the first time from Friday, will take a serious view of the recent developments, particularly the allegations levelled by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham leader J Jayalalitha against the Prime Minister's Office.

The BJP feels that in the ''war of nerves'' the onus of proving the allegations falls on Jayalalitha. ''If necessary, let her pull out,'' a senior BJP leader said.

The executive, which is ''unhappy'' over these developments, however, feels there is no need to think of any alternative at this stage since the AIADMK's support to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government ''is still there.'' The party feels that things will settle down soon.

It is also of the opinion that the prime minister is open to any meaningful dialogue.

The BJP is happy over the ''positive'' points in its favour. None of the allies have charged it with deviating from the national agenda.

As regards Congress president Sonia Gandhi's call to her partymen to be ready for any challenge, the BJP leaders say there is a big difference between the time when the party forced a situation leading to mid-term polls and at present. Right now it does not want to take any initiative.

The ground reality, as it exists now, is that the Congress and other Opposition parties have not yet decided about a common programme nor has there been any unanimity about the leadership. There are differences within the Congress itself about the leadership.

The BJP is of the view that under the given circumstances, the government will continue despite some ''problems and tensions'' as there is no viable alternative. The Opposition is not prepared for a snap poll.

The three-day executive is meeting in Jaipur for the first time after the Pokhran nuclear blasts. This will also be the first executive to be chaired by the newly elected president, Kushabhau Thakre.

About 130 delegates from all over the country are likely to attend the session, being held at Jaipur after an interval of three years.

Among major issues to be discussed is the strategy to be evolved for the assembly elections in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

The executive will also review the Vajpayee government's performance. Problems being faced by the government from its allies will be discussed and attempts made to work out a solution.

Vajpayee is expected to explain to the executive the government's ''approach'' on the Jayalalitha issue.

Home Minister Lal Kishinchand Advani will explain the government's stand on the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar and Hardwar in the proposed state of Uttaranchal.

In this context, the executive will also discuss future strategy about the BJP's commitment on the bills pertaining to the creation of separate states of Uttaranchal, Vananchal, Chattisgarh and according of full statehood for Delhi.

The executive will also pass a separate resolution congratulating Vajpayee for carrying out nuclear blasts at Pokharan and reiterate its demand to make nuclear bombs.

Vajpayee will be the main speaker at a BJP rally to be held on Saturday.

Human Resource Development Minister and former BJP president Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh will not attend the executive as they are abroad.

UNI

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