Ringside View

Economist Column
Dilemma of developement: West Bengal, who was the most industrially developed state at the time of independence lost the position..

Ringside View
Drubbing in last months elections have led to a battle royale within BJP

The drubbing in last month's assembly elections has ensued a battle royal between Bade Miyan and Chhote Miyan in BJP. The battle, as it appears, is two-pronged. One is inside the party and the other in the alliance.

"The party is not being consulted … there is no participation in major decision in Government," said the party president Khusbhao Thakre recently. Obviously to resist the fall-out on the despondent party. While Uma Bharati, herself being a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers, lashed out at her own government for taking U-turn on insurance privatisation in violation of party's manifesto. There are more such examples to show how post-election bout of recriminations in BJP has burst on to the surface.

On the other side, some of its allies have also started grinding there axe against the Government for the BJP's eight month's slide in Hindi-heartland. The Trinamul Congress leader and an M.P., Ajit Panja publicity criticised the Government for not paying heed to his party's warning on rising prices. ADMK supremo Jaylalita had often taken the Government to task for its non-governance. The rift in alliance forced the major partner to eat the humble pie by withdrawing the party's candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker to save its defeat.

The BJP leader L K Adavani had to admit that the alliance partners have been creating problems for the party and also the Government. Earlier, in their soul searching exercise, the party president Thakre had attributed the reasons for the party's defeat to its allies. While blaming the Government for dilution of the 'Hindutva' agenda, the Sangh Parivar said it was so done for keeping commitment to alliance partners. Other way round, the Sangh Parivar puts its accusing finger towards the alliance partner for causing dilution in 'Hindutva' agenda and thereby, the electoral debacle in the Hindi heartland.

So the battle between Bade Miyan and Chhote Miyan' in BJP continues. Now comes the question, what next? The answer is found in what a fourth-term BJP M.P. from Madhya Paradesh said recently : "Each day the Vajpayee Government continues, it costs the party dearly."