March 29, 1999
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BJP All Pomp, No Party Even the glitzy anniversary celebrations couldn't narrow the divide between party and Government. By Saba Naqvi Bhaumik
There was the glitzy celebration organised by Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan; the launching of a sports channel on Doordarshan by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Satyamev Jayate show in the backdrop of Delhi's Hauz Khas monuments. The events ended up causing enormous heartburn as many party veterans failed to receive invitations. "This entire event has been conceived and organised by Pramod without consulting senior leaders," grumbled an MP. "If our views are not important why should we attend the show -- even if we get invitations?" A senior RSS functionary muttered: "Am I going to call up Mahajan for an invitation? If he does not remember us we will not be there." Not that Vajpayee was content with the celebrations being reduced to a series of variety shows. In a bid to defray criticism that the BJP was all pomp and no content, he took off to Sikheda village in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh to launch the Annapurna scheme for providing free foodgrain to impecunious senior citizens. He even kept Mahajan sweating till the last minute over his presence at the Hauz Khas show. The wariness proved infectious. Few members of the Government graced BJP President Kushabhau Thakre's high tea. Like the man himself, Thakre's tea was a low-key affair, attended by just six ministers -- L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Ram Naik, Kabindra Purakayastha, Som Pal and Uma Bharati. Despite whispers that he would make a brief appearance, Vajpayee didn't attend. BJP apparatchiks tried to gloss over the absence by saying it saved them the bother of over-intrusive security. A dull speech, tea and chaat and the BJP president's modest celebration was over. The only noteworthy point made by Thakre was that the anniversary fell on the Hindu New Year, the 52nd century of the Kalyug. But this auspicious coincidence failed to enthuse the Hindu parivar which appeared singularly apathetic about the entire jamboree. BJP General Secretary Narendra Modi, on his part, tried to play down the subtle tension between the party and the Government. "Once a man gets married, he will naturally pay more attention to his wife than his mother. The mother may feel hurt but her importance isn't diminished," he explained. Part of the problem lies in the party being unable to come up with any creative inputs for the Government. There are no cells advising the various ministries on policy and the ideology of the old-timers poses a liability for a coalition Government. Besides, ever since Advani relinquished the presidentship to Thakre less than a year ago, most of the front organisations have become moribund. Says a Yuva Morcha activist: "Till a year ago the morcha was vibrant and active. Now, under Thakre, the organisation has gone to sleep." Even the Bihar unit failed to capitalise on the reinstallation of the Rabri Devi Government. "How could we immediately agitate against an action taken by our own Central Government?" asks state unit President Nand Kishore Yadav. "But we did organise a black day and plan a Jago Bihar rally in mid-April." What may perk up the organisation are Vajpayee's and Advani's visits to states like West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Except for whistle-stop campaign tours during the November assembly polls, this will be the first time the prime minister will be addressing rallies from a party forum. If the dispirited celebrations are an indication, then the BJP is badly in need of this shot of adrenalin. |
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Celebrating the first
anniversary of its Government at the Centre should have been an exhilarating moment for
the BJP. A chance to put aside the confusion and differences of the past year and present
a united face. But instead of bringing worker and leader together in a moment of triumph,
the anniversary do last week only highlighted the persisting chasm not only between the
party and the government but within the Government itself. 
