Allies Insecure Over Bjps Emphasis On A Strong Centre

In view of the Bharatiya Janata partys emphasis on a strong Centre vis-a-vis the states, the partys regional allies are increasingly feeling insecure over issues like the devolution of financial powers to states and the existence of Article 356 in the statute book.

The party is trying to project an image of being friendly to the interests of regional parties, which have come to play a dominant role in national politics. However, the party is unlikely to bend beyond a point, guided as it is by the Rashtriya Swasyamsewak Sangh (RSS)s philosophy of one nation, one culture and one people.

As per the RSS ideology of a strong Centre, most issues like uniform civil code, abrogation of Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya are possible only when there is a strong Centre, and the BJP controls it.

This is likely to create problems for the party in finding new allies, thereby endangering the prospect of another attempt at forming a government at the Centre.

This contradiction was evident at the BJP chief ministers conference in Jaipur recently. It failed to come up with a unanimous decision on the issue of scrapping Article 356, that empowers the Centre to dismiss the state governments.

While Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, who was a special invitee, opposed Article 356 and advocated its scrapping, the BJP representatives led by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat refused to take such a categorical stand.

Although the BJP has opposed the use of Article 356 on political grounds, it considers the Article useful because it gives the Centre a handle to deal with sensitive issues such as terrorism, insurgency etc.

In recent years, particularly since 1991, the BJP has been trying to project its image of being an advocate of greater autonomy to the states. Its 1991 election manifesto talks in detail about various degrees of autonomy to states. The 1996 election manifesto carries the message forward.

However, despite the partys best efforts, it does not appear to be successful in generating confidence among its existing and potential partners. The main reason behind the regional parties decision not to support the BJP and to join the United Front was their understanding that they would have a better deal in the Front, a BJP leader admitted.

Chief ministers like PK Mahanta (Assam), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and K Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu) would never have got the same respectability which they enjoy now had they supported the BJP to form a government.

The BJP has started realising the aspirations of these regional satraps and they are trying to find a way out to combine their regional aspirations with the partys concept of a strong Centre.

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayees proposal for setting up a National Democratic Front (NDF) is an attempt in this direction. The details of the proposal are yet to be drawn up; in any case nobody is talking about it now.