HVK Archives: UP outcome a lesson to all parties
UP outcome a lesson to all parties - The Observer
Observer Political Bureau
()
12 October 1996
Title : UP outcome a lesson to all parties
Author : Observer Political Bureau
Publication : The Observer
Date : October 12, 1996
The political parties may claim what they what to prove
and what suits them, but the outcome of the 1996 Uttar
Pradesh assembly elections has given the message that if
the non-Bharatiya Janata Party forces want to keep the
BJP away from the government, they have to remain united
keeping aside their personal and political rivalry.
In the last assembly elections too, the mandate was
fractured and there was a hung assembly, but the Samajwa-
di Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, together baged more
seats than the BJP.
This resulted in formation of a coalition government
headed by the Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, this govern-
ment did not last more than 18 months.
The brief honeymoon of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP
was over due to sharp difference between the BSP chief
and the SP leader.
This was followed by the installation of the BSP govern-
ment headed by Mayawati supported by BJP which too failed
to complete its term and collapsed within four-months.
But the damage was done and the BJP gameplan pain off in
breaking the SP-BSP partnership, as they never wanted an
united opposition against them and in particular the SP-
BSP in one fold.
This time BJP had a divided opposition - on one hand they
had United Front led by the Mulayam Singh Yadav and on
the other the BSP-Congress combine.
But the BJP state leadership failed to encash that.
According to the state office-bearer, who on condition of
anonmity told The Observer of Business and Politics that
over confidence and lacklustre attitude of the state unit
was responsible for this near debacle performance.
This was dittoed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and the party
general secretary Pramod Mahajan, who were really unhappy
over the party performance.
They felt that the atmosphere was in favour of the BJP
especially after the sympathy aspect due to fall of the
Vajpayee government at the Centre.
It can be noted that the top BJP leaders including the
state unit chief Kalraj Mishra, former chief minister
Kalyan Singh too were predicting a clear majority very
confidently, but the performance has not only shocked the
state unit but also the central leadership.
The feeling is that the divided opposition and favourable
political atmosphere should have resulted in clear major-
ity.
This has led the think tank of the party to make no stake
for the formation of the government, and that is what
Vajpayee wanted but the state leadership is in no mood to
do that.
According to sources many of them want to make a claim
saying that the supporters will be disappointed if the
party does not stake its claim to form the government not
only the BJP, but the United Front too is not happy with
the outcome of the elections.
The Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday
told The Observer that he was happy because neither the
BJP nor the BSP-Congress combine were able to secure
majority which he felt a mandate against them.
But the Congress (T) is disappointed and feels that their
political future is at stake. The hill people rejected
with the SP, which is responsible for the Muzaffarnagar
incident.
Another major constitution of the UF, the JD, perhaps is
bearthing its last in the state.
Despite the several visits of the Prime Minister and
multi-crore announcements the state of Janata Dal could
not be changed as it won only seve seat this time.
Meanwhile, in a significant political development, BSP
confirmed that all options are open to it in Uttar Pra-
desh including formation of a government with BJP's
support.
BSP supremo Kanshi Ram told newsmen in New Delhi that:
"If the BJP extends unconditional support to form a
government, we will consider it."
Though Kanshi Ram had earlier described as fabricated,
the reports that his party would enter into a coalition
government with the BJP.
Kanshi Ram also rejected the reported move of the UF to
float a third candidate for the post of chief minister.
He said: "I will make all the arrangement in Delhi to
facilitate her ascendence to power at Lucknow."
According to reports from Ahmedabad, Bharatiya Janata
Party president L K Advani said UP governor should invite
the BJP to form a ministry as it had emerged as the
single largest party.
Mr Advani added that the governor should act as per
tradition. Asked why his party failed to secure absolute
majority, he said it had fared well in Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha member Bangara Laxman said his
party was not averse to giving support to Ms Mayawati in
forming the government.
He said the party's aim is to keep the non-BJP parties
out of power, for this it would not mind forming a coali-
tion government with BSP.
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