Advantage BJP
Continued
Interview: L K Advani
"Let Congress Split..."
His successful handling of the Uttar Pradesh crisis once again showed Lal Krishna Advani
as the BJP's master strategist. The party president spoke to Deputy Editor Swapan Dasgupta and Principal Correspondent Saba Naqvi Bhaumik the day after his
latest triumph. Excerpts:  How did you manage
the majority in Uttar Pradesh? Did Kalyan Singh plan the defections in advance?
Even before we joined hands with the BSP, efforts were made to make up the shortfall of 28
MLAs. And our focus was on the Congress. But at that time, there was an implied suggestion
that if they join us, they would have to be made ministers. Which is not there at the
moment.
You mean they will not be made ministers now?
No, I am not saying that. At that time, those who came would have made demands.
Now, it is about how we accommodate them.
Was the alliance with the BSP worth it?
I have always maintained that if alliances endure, it will benefit us politically
and socially. It has not endured, but I believe that as long as it lasted, it helped erase
the impression that the BJP is anti-Dalit.
But the party is still going in for alliances. Is it because you are within
smelling distance of power at the Centre?
We have alliances working in states but there are bound to be problems at the
central level. We will have to work out a common programme that preserves the core of our
ideological thrust.
If more fissures develop within the United Front (UF), will the BJP stake a
claim to power?
I would not rule it out. It depends on the nature of the fissures and the kind of
members willing to ally with us. If the Congress party splits and a section wants to come
along with the BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership, it would be worth considering.
The fragmented nature of this Lok Sabha makes any government that emerges from it
inherently unstable, but if a sizeable chunk of one party comes across, it is a different
matter.
Do you see the vertical split in the Uttar Pradesh Congress having a domino
effect elsewhere in favour of the BJP?
Till five days back, all our adversaries were together. Now there has been a
sharp cleavage between the uf and the Congress and within the uf constituents. The
displeasure of the Samajwadi Party (SP) with the Government's decision can manifest itself
in any form. Our growth has been principally at the cost of the Congress.
But does not the coming together of the SP, BSP and Congress on the same
anti-BJP platform suggest a setback?
As far as the Congress and the SP are concerned, they were already there. It is
only the BSP for which I believe that it is not an anti-BJP platform. They would be
willing to go along with anyone. They are concerned only with themselves. What happened in
Uttar Pradesh is a pointer to the fact that anti-BJPism has its limits
With the SP and the BSP on one side, don't you expect a lot of caste
polarisation in Uttar Pradesh?
Let us see when we face the situation. But I have always believed that the
Ayodhya agitation most successfully sublimated caste tensions.
Will you have any similar movement?
We don't have to have a movement.
Why is it always felt that there is a difference in the thrust between you and
Vajpayee?
It's more a matter of style than of substance. I do not think that on any
particular issue, there is a difference between us. And it is true that ever since the
rath yatra of 1990, my image has become more identified with the Ayodhya movement than
with anything else.
Is that image not proving a liability?
I don't think it is a liability. For a long time I was not comfortable in crowds
... I've always suffered from this kind of complex.
Is the BJP ready for elections?
As ready as any party can be. But like a student, unless the examination dates
are announced, he does not become as ready as he ought to be.
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