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BJP's Batty Behenjis

BJP's Batty Behenjis

Author: M.J. Akbar
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: November 15, 2003

(excerpts)

The BJP's bad luck with women extends to those within. The party took a very early decision when it named Uma Bharati, the coy saffronite, and Vasundhara Raje, the princess-in-waiting, as its nominees for chief minister in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. There was a smug air of nomination about the decision, as if the elections had already been won. Ever since, it has been downhill. The two went into campaign mode long before the season started, and may have peaked too early. Uma Bharati's advantage is that no matter how far she slips, she could still end up ahead. But her compatriot in Rajasthan has not been so lucky, largely because of some excellent position play by Ashok Gehlot, who has made his ordinary image an extraordinary strength. The most astute political strategists have failed to notice that there is a continuing democratisation of the electoral process. The age of glamour is crumbling. The voter now wants leaders who talk like him, look like him, and communicate with him; there is decreasing sympathy for dynasts who are doing the voter a favour by leaving their palaces for social service.

But the most startling fact about Uma and Vasu is how quickly they betrayed their political immaturity. At the first sign of pressure, both bolted. Both made a bid for a second constituency, signalling an utter lack of confidence in themselves and their party. They had to be spanked back into line, but the damage was done. When the spotlight is on you, it is not your face that gets illuminated but your nerves.

The BJP has been much luckier with men. Chandrababu Naidu was among the first friends and has not wavered. He has called for early elections after ensuring that his alliance with the BJP is in place. There is more than one reason why he wants February elections, but he certainly expects the BJP to go for a national election then as well. Only then will the Vajpayee factor help him. Incidentally, the BJP would have brought in at least three of the four Assemblies if it had called for a general election on December 1. The Vajpayee factor (he is streets ahead of Sonia Gandhi in the opinion polls) would have compensated for the nervous mistakes of Uma Behen and Vasu Bhabhi (she is Rajasthan's sister-in-law, rather than daughter). Instead, BJP leaders are privately suggesting that they might end up losing three out of four states. The decisions are not in, but certainly nothing is certain anymore.

The ultimate irony should not escape either the BJP or the Congress. The only woman that the BJP can now rely on is Sonia Gandhi.
 


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