BJP goes all out to woo potential allies

MANDATE 2004

All day today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained preoccupied with the deepening conviction that they might have no option but to form a minority government at the Centre.

The staggering defeat of Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh continued to cast a long shadow for the second day. With less than 24 hours to go for counting, efforts were on to sound out post-poll allies.

According to sources in the party, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Convener George Fernandes spoke to MDMK chief Vaiko this morning. Vaiko told Fernandes that any decision on re-joining the NDA would have to be taken only after results were out.

In order to secure his alliance, DMK leader Karunanidhi held a meeting of the Democratic People's Front in Chennai and announced that his party had ruled out rejoining the NDA.

"It is out of the question," he told reporters. That the DMK supremo was only speaking on behalf of his party and not the MDMK and PMK, his other alliance partners, was something lost on no one.

A pro-BJP group from Assam called on Fernandes last night. Notwithstanding the unpleasantness between the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BJP on account of seat-adjustment differences (the Guwahati ticket was taken away from the sitting MP, Bijoya Chakravarti, by the BJP and given to new candidate Bhupen Hazarika), the AGP cannot go with the Congress, they sought Fernandes's guidance in his capacity as convener of the NDA.

The Congress is not hopeful of its chances in Asam largely because of the performance of its Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the AGP is expected to do well from the state.

Apart from seeking southern comfort, the BJP-NDA combine is still wooing Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. A senior BJP leader confirmed that talks were on with Mayawati at various levels, including through BSP spokesperson Sudhir Goel.

According to high ranking sources, efforts to form a breakaway faction in either the BSP or Samajwadi Party parliamentary party have also not been ruled out.

Former ally Indian National Lok Dal is also being spoken to through the good offices of Shiromani Akali Dal chief Prakash Singh Badal. With both sons of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, Ajay and Abhay Chautala in the poll fray, a ministerial berth could be used as a bargaining chip.

The NDA is hoping that President A P J Abdul Kalam will go by the book when it comes to inviting parties to stake a claim for government formation.

The BJP feels that despite all doomsday calculations they are set to emerge as the single largest party and the NDA as the single largest pre-poll coalition.

They expect the President to follow the Constitution to the letter and invite the BJP to form the government, on the condition that they seek a vote of confidence at a later date.

With many a slip between the cup and the lip, the field is wide open for trade-offs and promises, which even the May 13 result may not fully resolve.