|
NATION:
BJP
A
Tale Of Frustration and Feud
It
was a classic case of the BJP's institutional failure to channel ambition
and energy. For Uma, life in a ruling party became a tale of frustration.
She couldn't understand why Advani didn't object to former Madhya Pradesh
chief minister Sunderlal Patwa's inclusion in the Cabinet. She also fumed
at her mentor's continuing relationship with former MP and businessman
J.K. Jain, a man she felt had vilified her. She saw her stints in government,
first as minister of state under Murli Manohar Joshi and subsequently
as tourism minister were meaningless. She resigned from the Vajpayee Government
in January and devoted herself to mass mobilisation in Madhya Pradesh.
Here too
she came across a wall of opposition, not least from her own party colleagues.
Uma felt the BJP as a party should lead her struggle to secure the rights
of casual employees. The local party bosses pleaded preoccupation with
the organisational elections to fob her off. She went to Delhi and Advani
promised to send a delegation of party MPs to study the issue. General
Secretary M. Venkaiah Naidu was instructed to put together a team.
It never
materialised. Sources close to Uma point an accusing finger at party President
Kushabhau Thakre, with whom she has had differences dating back to 1992.
For Uma that was the turning point. She saw absolutely no reason in continuing.
"I felt I would be more effective on my own, without the inhibitions
of an MP."
Always a
stickler for form and hierarchy, the BJP wasn't impressed by her sulks,
tantrums and abrupt resignation from the Government. It could not appreciate
her unending feud with Patwa and, by association, Thakre. Yes, everyone
agreed, Uma has talent and potential but she must be focused, disciplined
and patient. "I agree I am temperamental and not a good team player,
but I am not unstable." Years ago, in a similar situation, she had
said, "It's in my genes."
A fierce
individualist, Uma sets her own rules. She was in love with Govindacharya
and wanted to marry him. To the RSS, that was heresy. In 1992, she took
an overdose of sleeping pills alleging harassment of her family by the
BJP government headed by Patwa, and tacitly encouraged by Thakre. And
now, she has walked out in a huff.
Her resignation
is a colossal blow to the BJP's attempts at social engineering. She hasn't
left the party but among her vast OBC following, she is already being
viewed as the victim of an iniquitous system. Uma's problems are in many
ways unique and can't be equated with the rebellion in the ranks that
the Swadeshi Jagran Manch is fomenting by describing the Vajpayee Government's
policies as "anti-national". But her resignation, in effect,
bolsters the army of sulking saffron (India Today, August 28). The disgruntlement
in the ranks is certain to cast a shadow over the National Council session
in Nagpur.
Not that Uma will be there. She is off to an undisclosed retreat for two
months to ward off pressure to reconsider. After that, she will be back
in business, "organising the poor in Bundelkhand, Palamau and Bolangir".
MP or ex-MP, the sadhvi who is inspired by Hanuman, Shivaji and Che Guevara
isn't going to fade out quietly.
Pg.
1
Top
|
The
stock markets are humming, and it's feel-good time once again, writes
INDIA TODAY Associate Editor V. Shankar Aiyar in 
