Bjp Move To Stave Off Cong Threat

Although the BJP dismissed Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's statement that the Congress might be asked to form an alternative government at the Centre, it has decided to take steps to prevent the Congress from pulling down the government.

The BJP has already asked its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha for discussion on the Jain Commission report and the ATR, though the party has not issued any whip. This has been done to prevent the Congress and other opposition parties from dominating the house in the absence of BJP members, a party office-bearer said.

The BJP leadership has informally told all its MPs to undertake extensive tour of the country for the next two months, after Parliament's budget session, which concludes today. Tour schedule of prominent BJP leaders is to be decided at the party's three-day national executive meeting in Jaipur from August 21.

 

These MPs have been asked to listen carefully to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's proposed speech in the Lok Sabha on August 14 midnight to mark the golden jubilee celebration of India's independence. Some of the prominent themes of the party's campaign is likely to be picked up from that speech, the BJP leader said.

BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu said Sonia Gandhi's statement intended to boost the morale of Congressmen when the party was not able to do anything concrete. The Congress' wish to form an alternative government was a "day dream," he said. The Congress did not have the numbers to form the government, he pointed out.

Some BJP leaders felt that the discussion on the Jain Commission report would further reduce the Congress's chances of forming government.