Partial Bjp Lineup Scores Few Points
The BJPs attempt to demonstrate its strength along with its allies was only partially successful yesterday. Four of its alliance partners, the AIADMK, the Orissa-based BJD, the NTR-Telugu Desam and the Trinamul Congress, did not turn up. A fifth, Lok Shakti, was represented by RK Hegdes deputy, Jeevraj Alva.
Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal (HVP), Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal (Akali), Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi (Shiv Sena), Samata Party president George Fernandes and Alva duly declared their unstinted support for AB Vajpayees bid to steer the country. But their themes were otherwise limited.
Congress torchbearer Sonia Gandhi was clearly on their minds. Among those who criticised her were chief ministers Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of Rajasthan and Sahib Singh Verma of Delhi. Vajpayee only quipped that Congress leaders rushed to 10 Janpath (her residence) whenever they calculated that the BJP was doing well. Verma said `ladoos were being distributed in Italy at the thought that an Italian would soon rule India.Fernandes was the only one to refer to economic issue, staunchly supporting Swadeshi.
The BJPs top leaders, who have been pussyfooting on their likely economic policies, avoided the subject. Vajpayee touched on rising prices, slowing industrial and agricultural production owing to low investment, and spoke of the need for concessional farm credit to farmers.