HVK Archives: As polls are 'round the corner', BJP formulate new tactics
As polls are 'round the corner', BJP formulate new tactics - The Times of India
Anil Saxena
()
25 July 1997
Title: As polls are 'round the corner', BJP formulate new tactics
Author: Anil Saxena
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 25, 1997
Firmly believing that the next Lok Sabha elections, "which are round the
corner", would see the Bharatiya Janata Party in power at the Centre, its
national executive is to meet here on Saturday to chalk out strategies.
The party's top brass would debate how to consolidate the gains of BJP
president L.K. Advani's two-month Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra. Party
strategists are of the opinion that "to keep the heat on until the crucial
parliamentary elections" a post-yatra follow-up programme should be drawn
up. They say the post-yatra political scenario was quite favourable for the
party and a plan to sustain the tempo built by Mr Advani's yatra needs to
be immediately executed.
The confidence in the party that it would be able to capture power in the
next Lok Sabha elections is also based on the negative developments in the
Congress and the United Front camps. The party has decided to fight the
next elections on the single issue of corruption and as such it would be
the top-most item on the agenda of the national executive. Mr Advani's
yatra which covered nearly 15,000 kms in 21 states and Union territories
had very sharply highlighted corruption and tried to make it principal
touchstone in its election campaign.
Pa" strategists have decided to hold public meetings in states which would
be attended by central leaders as a part of their programme to sustain the
campaign against corruption built up by Mr Advani's yatra.
Mr Advani has himself said that the multi-crore fodder seam in Bihar would
be the major issue in the next Lok Sabha elections and "anyone who protects
or sides with those involved in the fodder seam are doomed to disaster".
It is likely that the national executive will pass a resolution on the need
to combat corruption in high places.
Besides giving a call to root out corruption, the political resolution
would also highlight the "helplessness" of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral to
check this evil. It would blame the United Front government and the
Congress for shielding corrupt politicians.
Although the party would be making efforts to bring into its fold more
regional parties, it has decided to fight the Lok Sabha elections along
with its present allies - Shiv Sena, Samata Party, Haryana Vikas Party and
Akali Dal. The national executive is also likely to review the party's
relations with its ally - the BSP - in Uttar Pradesh.
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