'Rattled' BJP to wait for President's word
Rajesh Ramachandran in New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party continues to wait for the all-important word from President Kocheril Raman Narayanan after getting the 'reluctant' support letter from All India Anna Dravida Kazagham general secretary J Jayalalitha.
If a late night communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan is any indication, the BJP may have to wait for a day or two more before it realises the dream of forming a government at the Centre.
Without giving any indication about the President's next move to end the current political impasse, the communique simply mentioned his discussions with various national leaders.
However, rattled as it is by the AIADMK's vituperative attack on the BJP leadership, the party has preferred to wait for the Presidential communication.
"We don't want to rush to form a government under a threat. How can we accept her 'reluctant' support? She is the biggest ally with almost 30 members from Tamil Nadu. We would not be able to form a government without taking her into confidence. She would be contacted tonight and all attempts would be made to pacify her," says a BJP leader.
The party is also worried that the Tamil allies have spread the ''canard that the BJP has hurt Tamil pride. We have to
explain to the people that J Jayalalitha's proposals were not vetoed at the March 9 meeting."
That the BJP is giving top priority to pacifying its Tamil Nadu ally was evident from the way the party has tried to play
down Jayalalitha's attack.
Kushabhau Thakre, the BJP's senior-most general secretary, told Rediff On The NeT, "It has been decided that all of us need not comment on what Jayalalitha said at the media conference."
The party also felt that a BJP government would not be 'stable if one of its allies is cut-up'.
"The party is no mood to displease Jayalalitha,'' BJP vice-president Bangaru Laxman told Rediff On The NeT. ''We want her active participation. The government formation can wait. Anyway, the ball is in the President's court, and he has started the process of consultations with various parties. Let him complete it and take a decision."
Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, it is learnt, is against the idea of forming a government with Jayalalitha's support hanging fire.
Among those opposing this view are party president Lal Kishinchand Advani, former defence minister Pramod Mahajan and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. They feel the party should not forego the opportunity to form a government.
Asked about the party's next move, the BJP's senior vice-president, Sunder Singh Bhandari, told Rediff On The NeT, "The issue of support is more or less settled and we hope to form a government. Atal Bihari Vajpayee will not seek an appointment with the President. We are waiting for an initiative from the President."
Elections '98
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