The Predicament continues...

The BJP is still to find words to come out of the situation that it finds itself in after Advani's recent interview. They are literally stuck between the devil and the deep sea. If they disagree with Mr. Advani, they would end up antagonising him and risking more such statements from him. If they agree with what he said, they would in one word be discrediting both Atal Behari Vajpeyi and Rajnath Singh. Rajnath Singh, being the current President of the BJP, is facing a serious disciplinary issue where he is a party.

It is a pity that the BJP which has traditionally had a bottoms up organisation structure is seeing such bickering at the top. This also shows the importance of RSS in the BJP scheme of things. In the good old days an RSS reprimand would have sent all scurrying back into denial and apologetic mode.

If we get down to analysing this situation, we should study the present top rung of the BJP. After Atal and Advani, there are the likes of Murli Manohar Joshi, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitely, Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj.

Murli Manohar Joshi is in hibernation. Venkaiah Naidu is seldom seen. Arun jaitely is busy with cricket, parties and his practice. Rajnath Singh is confused, Sushma is god knows where. Atal Behari Vajpeyi is maintaining a studied silence on the issue. Though I feel at this juncture people in the BJP are closely watching him to speak on the issue before anyone else puts his/her foot out.

At this time one misses people like Uma Bharti who would not have shied away from making a statement either in support or in opposition on the issue. Actually what the trick that Advani has played has been played to perfection earlier by Atal himself. His musings are legendary. Thsoe were a good ploy to force the hands of the powers that be to come out with an opinion on the issue. Now the same trick is being played by Advani and the effect is telling.

The Predicament of Bhartiya Janata Party

To B J P or not to B J P is a question that continues to pop up time and again. Confusing matters no end Mr. L.K. Advani who in one stroke has rubbished both former PM Atal Bihari Vajpeyi and party presdent rajnath Singh. By declaring to all and sundry that he would be the party candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the next parliamentary polls he has shown his eagerness to somehow get that position and also a fear of being outsmarted by someone for it.

I would like to hear the party's official position on it but one thing is certain that we have a certain creed of politicians who would go to any lengths to get that coveted post and which post is more coveted than that of the PM of the country.

We have a recent example of Arjun Singh trying to spoil the party for Manmohan post facto. The damage would have been more had the economy not resuged thereby taking the attention of the people.

A better sense of judgement was expected from Advani but it seems his ambition (or is it frustration) got better of him.