"I would have declined a second chance to form the government"
Saibal Das
India Today
May 10, 1999
Title: "I would have declined a second chance to form the government"
Author: Saibal Das
Publication: India Today
Date: May 10, 1999
During the campaign for the last general elections, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee had made it amply clear that he would not fight another
election. Thirteen months down the line, he has changed his mind. Last
week, in a 90-minute interview with Editor PRABHU CHAWLA, the prime
minister appeared to relish the prospects of another campaign. The
confidence was understandable considering the slender margin of his
government's defeat and the tawdry efforts of the opposition to cobble
together a government that ultimately failed.
Q: The obvious question first. When It was clear that the others
didn't have the numbers they claimed, why didn't you stake a claim a
second time?
A: Frankly speaking, we didn't have the numbers. Ganit hamare virudh
tha (The arithmetic was against us). We had 269 votes, the opposition
270.
Q: Did you try to add to your numbers?
A: We tried our best to carry others with us. But there were few who
could be approached. One thing you must concede is that 19 members
left us but we lost by only one vote. Those who were with us, remained
with us during the vote and after the vote. Those who voted with the
Congress parted company later.
Q: So was It the failure of your managers to get just that extra vote
to save your government?
A: What purpose would it have served? Only a temporary reprieve for a
few more months. You cannot provide good governance in such a
situation.
Q: If the President had given you a second chance to prove your
majority, would you have accepted it?
A: I would have declined the second chance to form the government. As
you are aware, I didn't meet the President even once to stake my
claim. But in this case the President himself came to the conclusion
that we didn't have the numbers to provide a stable government. He
advised us to dissolve the House.
Q: Do you feel that the President was not as accommodating with your
government as he has been with your predecessors?
A: I had no problems with him during the past 14 months. But he
definitely wants to be an active president. His role during the
current crisis made that amply clear.
Q: Does It mean that you will face problems as a caretaker prime
minister?
A: Why should I? There is no concept of a caretaker government. Ours
is a full-fledged Government. We are not here just for TV cameras and
social functions. Even the President has made it clear in the past
that such governments have full powers to deal with official work.
Q: But what will happen to the CTBT and other international treaties
which are to be signed in the near future? Will you proceed on these
fronts?
A: We will face some difficulties, I am sure. If there was a
Parliament we could have struck a consensus on these issues. But if
elections are delayed, it may be highly improper to commit ourselves?
Q: But can't you call an all-party meeting and come to an agreement?
A: We will try that as well. But I don't have much hopes since we are
in the midst of a do-or-die election.
Q: Did you really expect to lose merely by one vote?
A: No, we did not think the voting would go this way I don't think
anybody did. The BSP had declared on the floor of the House that it
would abstain. And we don't normally have chief ministers attending
Parliament and voting!
Q: In retrospect, do you think it was a blunder to align with
Jayalalitha and concede her unreasonable demands?
A: I must tell you that if we had indeed conceded her demands, I doubt
if she would have broken from us.
Q: You could have saved your government by sacrificing George
Fernandes as defence minister. Why didn't you do it?
A: Sacrificing George Fernandes would have amounted to punishing him
for something he is not guilty of.
Q: Your opponents were able to mobilise themselves to pull you down.
That they failed later Is another thing. How come you failed to nail
them?
A: There was a conspiracy against us. They came together to bring my
government down because we started to do well. They were afraid of our
growing popularity. They had not expected a good budget from us. Our
initiatives on Pakistan shook them up badly.
Q: Yet, there was total inaction on the Bofors Issue? Why did you
dither on granting permission to the CBI to begin prosecution?
A: We gave permission for the prosecution of S.K. Bhatnagar before our
government fell. We also wrote to the President requesting him to
grant permission for launching a case against Madhavsinh Solanki.
Q: Where does it rest now?
A: With Rashtrapatiji.
Q: Will you remind the President once again about Solanki?
A: Yes we will do it soon.
Q: Do you think the BJP Is geared for the polls when It has failed to
exploit the current situation to Its advantage?
A: The BJP is not a party dependent on a single individual nor is it
tied to the apron strings of a family. It is an organisation of nearly
two crore people. Today the situation is one of advantage BJP. We can
only improve on our previous tally. Add to this the strength of our
allies and friendly parties, and you will get a clear picture of our
potential.
Q: There is a belief that Advani's tenure as home minister has been
controversial, that he would have been better as the party president.
A: I think Advani has done an excellent job as home minister. Earlier,
as party president, he proved himself to be an able organiser. He is
an asset both in Government and the party.
Q. Would you now like him to shift to the party and run an effective
campaign for your victory?
A: As you know, it has already been announced that he will head the
election campaign committee.
Q: But don't you feel that the party has let you down by not actively
supporting the government and helping you deal with allies?
A: (Pauses) To some extent the party could have done much more,
particularly in dealing with the allies. The BJP didn't try to learn
the lessons of coalition politics.
Q: Is that the reason that the parties are supporting you and not the
BJP?
A: It is not like that. But I must confess this election is not going
to be easy. It is going to be a dirty election. I hope I will be able
to prevent this trend.
Q: Would you now like to enter elections as a morcha or a front rather
than as the BJP?
A: We are thinking of a national alliance and also of a joint
campaigning. These are details that are yet to be worked out. Ideally,
the alliance should contest this election on a joint platform, on the
basis of the National Agenda for Governance.
Q: If you are going to contest on a common manifesto, will the BJP
drop issues like Article 370, Common Civil Code and Ayodhya?
A: These are not even there on our National Agenda for Governance. And
they will not be included in the manifesto or common minimum
programme.
Q: What will your slogan for the coming election be?
A: There are many. And there is one that everyone is talking about.
Even Jyoti Basu has remarked on it. Earlier I always believed that the
videshi vs swadeshi debate would never take off. But now it is being
discussed at every platform. Suggestions have been made to amend the
constitution to debar those not born in India from holding offices of
the president, vice-president, prime minister and even the chief
justice of India. But my fear is such a debate will not be healthy.
Bahut soch soch ke bol raha hoon mein (I am choosing my words very
carefully).
Q: Did you enjoy your tenure In office? Or do you think It was a
mistake getting entangled with 20 allies?
A: The prime minister's office is not something that one enjoys.
Q: Are you still firm on your resolve of not contesting another
election?
A: (Pauses, then laughs) Now I am being reminded, "You have not
completed your five-year term. If you had, we would have spared you."
I have to be a member of the House for the remaining four years. So
here I am, back in the field.
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