Sunita Vakil
With the Congress having painted itself into a corner over corruption and relentless pricerise, the principal opposition party has been unable to fill the vacuum. Indeed, the BJP has persistently failed to capitalise on the failures of the ruling UPA which has been tottering in its second “avataar” in power. On its part the party has done little to create an impression on public minds that it is well oiled and eminently suited to change things for the better if catapulated to power. Evidently, an alternative to a corrupt Government is a strong and principled opposition. Can BJP claim to be a worthwhile candidate?
Despite the general disenchantment with the Congress Government, the BJP party convention offered no signs that it could be getting its act together. At a time when the Congress’s downhill slide has raised hopes of its return to power, LK Advani’s and Sushma Swaraj’s show of dissent have exposed the rifts within. Indeed, its now out in the open that all is not hunky-dory within the party. Gadkari has his share of detractors as everybody is not happy with him for getting a second term, largely because of an internal tussle for power. Infact, the differences between the party president and other central leaders seem to be creating new camps within the party. Mr Advani and Mrs Swaraj are reportedly among several top BJP leaders who are opposed to Gadkari getting a second term.
The party meet was to plan a strategy against the Congress led governance at the centre to prepare for the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year and also the more important General elections just 2 years away. But just as Mr Gadkari seemed to have managed to bring together all warring parteners on board, his party’s show of unity seems to have come undone again. While the traditional rally after the meet was attended by all the BJP Chief Ministers, the senior most leader LK Advani did not grace the rally. Neither did top leader Sushma Swaraj. Though embarrassed BJP spokespersons tried to playdown their absence saying that they had prior engagements, rumours began to fly thick and fast that there was infighting within the party. The fact that the leader of oppsition in Parliament Sushma Swaraj also beat a hasty retreat made it clear that the battle lines were being drawn in the party.
It can reasonably be argued that the two day national executive of the BJP in Mumbai hasn’t offered a viable political alternative to the Congress led UPA Government. Rather than coming out as a credible opposition the meet turned out to be a flop show with internal dissensions coming out in the open. More than anything else it demonstrated the party’s continued inability to regroup itself and emerge as a national alternative to the ever expanding political space.
However, the meet has proved to be significant in more ways than one. Most notable is the growing influence of the state leaders who boast of a considerable support at the grassroots. Then there is the erosion of authority of some central leaders like Gadkari himself. That Narendra Modi has asserted his authority within the party and has emerged as a popular face, is also significant. Gujarat Chief Minister Mr Modi, no doubt, used the platform to project himself as BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate. However, its yet to be seen how his acceptability will play out at the national level. Its also true that the BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has no love lost for Modi. And LK Advani is still nurturing prime ministerial ambitions.
Also significant is the fact that new power equations are emerging within the party. The party president Nitin Gadkari has attempted to patch up with Modi who was upset with him for inducing his arch rival Sanjay Joshi to the National Executive. Modi had virtually boycotted the event demanding that Joshi be made a sacrificial goat. To save his own face and secure another term as party chief, Gadkari succumbed and Joshi had to quit his party post just ahead of the National Executive.
With the Lok Sabha elections two years away and several state assembly polls just round the corner, the party was expected to show a united face. But what transpired at the National Executive was the opposite. Riven by unresolved differences, the BJP is headed for more turmoil and political incoherence. The party has made news mostly for the wrong reasons. It has been notorious for its penchant for opportunistic alliances. Its leaders are divided by venality and vaulting ambitions. With such a state of affairs what will certainly take a beating is the BJP’s political credibility.
The BJP’s strategy on tainted ministers also does not make much sense. The saffron party’s central leadership has brazenly displayed double standards all along. Its anticorruption plank won’t sound convincing unless it includes a clarion call against its own tainted ministers while attacking the UPA at the centre. Its not anybody’s case that tainted ministers should be included but those living in glass houses should not throw stones.
Is the BJP on a path to reinvent itself for the 2014 elections? As the party’s troubles are mounting its top leaders strike out on their own paths, each chalking his own strategy to outdo the other. The Mumbai fiasco as well as happenings in many states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh point to the contrary. Some recent goofups like admitting scam tainted former BSP minister Babu Kushawaha into the party despite charges against him in the health mission’ scam and making Uma Bharti the head of campaigning in UP have not shown the BJP leadership in good light. The party cannot even boast of a strong central leadership. Also, given the mood at the party grassroots and hardly any mass leader at the top, Modi’s candidature seems to be Hobson’s choice for the BJP.
However, the BJP has an opportunity to undo the 2004 and 2009 verdicts considering the UPA’s leadership crisis and policy paralysis. The party needs to face the challenges of the present and seize the opportunities of the future by infusing a new dynamism in the organisation and craft a new plank that can serve the party well. As a national alternative to the Congress, there is a need for the party to come up with the credible agenda of governance. Its not enough to point out flaws in the Congress’s policies and programmes. It is important to posit what the party plans to do if voted to power.
Can the BJP emerge as a credible alternative to the congress? It does not appear so at the moment given the rare criticism of Mr Advani regarding his own party leadership saying that the situation calls for introspection. Infact, by washing dirty linen in public, Advani has already confirmed the BJP status as a divided house besides denting its image as a disciplined party. However, focussing on expanding its base, strengthening relations with existing allies, reaching out to new partners and building a strong inclusive leadership hold the key to the party trumping the Congress in the next elections. By no means is it an easy task.
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