Differences Over Ayodhya Show

BSP supremo Kanshi Ram pointed out that the issue was in court and declared that the BSP would await the courts verdict. BJP chief LK Advani reiterated the BJPs stand that the Ayodhya issue would be solved when a BJP government was formed at the Centre. While Advani emphasised the need to restore social harmony and improve the law and order situation in the state, Ram said the BSP stood for social change. Asked about the different emphases, Advani said that, given the morass the country was in, any party that wanted to help the people had to stand for change.

The BSP chief indicated that he aimed at occupying the political space for the deprived sections of the society, whom his party claims to represent.

Ram clarified that the BSP would not necessarily have floor coordination with the BJP on all issues in Parliament. The BSP supports neither the United Front nor other parties; it will discharge the small role assigned to it by being a small party.

The compulsions of the BSP forced it to accept the coalition arrangement, he admitted. The Congress and the BSP contested the UP Assembly elections together. The BSP asked the Congress to withdraw support for the United Front government, but the Congress missed the opportunity, Ram said. After five months the situation had changed completely. The agreement has very much to do with the manner in which the central government has been dealing with Uttar Pradesh for the last few months, Advani said, while indicating the BJPs compulsions. The situation would have been different if the BJP was invited in the first place to form the government. The presumption that such coalition arrangements would force the BJP to play second fiddle was not right, Advani claimed, adding that such arrangements proved wrong the criticisms that the BJP has been isolated. At the national level only the BJP has witnessed growth, compared to all other political parties which have witnessed a decline in their support base, he said. On a

scribes query on the Congress role vis-a-vis the state government, Advani said he has been watching the developments

In the Congress UP unit. We will be watching them further.