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BJP plays down rumblings in NDA

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Neither the Trinamul Congress or Telugu Desam Party can destablise the Vajpayee government despite their leaders' critical references to certain official policies.

"The Trinamul and TDP are our allies and certain critical references by them on some government policies are sought to be exploited by frustrated Opposition parties to drive a wedge between us. Opposition parties have a pipe-dream because the National Democratic Alliance government headed by Vajpayeeji will last its full term," said senior BJP general secretary Narendra Modi.

Modi was responding to media reports that the 'unhealthy' environment in the NDA, emanating from the disgruntlement of some allies on certain government policies, could spur their exit from the coalition at the Centre.

" There has to be some reason for the Trinamul's and TDP's alleged disgruntlement. There are none. Mamataji [Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee] may have resigned over the petroleum price hike, but she has withdrawn her resignation and is back in the railway ministry. The TDP has no grievances against us, and in fact it is an inextricable part of the government," Modi pointed out.

A former BJP vice-president pointed out that the Trinamul's stakes in staying with the NDA outweighed its desire to extract mileage from its policies.

" I think Mamata has realised that her party's tie-up with the BJP is far more important than raising a hue and cry over the price hike of petroleum products. Marxists in West Bengal are fighting with their backs against the wall to retain power in the state. She knows that without the BJP's co-operation, her dreams of becoming chief minister will not fructify," the vice-president pointed out.

He added that "right now, she needs a face-saving formula to backtrack from her resolve to walk out of the NDA if her party's demands were not met."

Mamata recently wrote to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee. Trinamul sources indicated that that the letter could have reiterated the party's appeal to the government to make a token rollback in the price hike pertaining to kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.

" I don't know what Mamatadi's letter to the prime minister contains. But why should anybody be surprised if our party persists with our demand that the hike be rolled back because common people cannot take on the resultant economic burden," Trinamul leader Pankaj Banerjee pointed out.

The fact that Jyoti Basu, the longest-serving chief minister of West Bengal has just retired on health grounds with deputy Buddhadev Bhattacharya taking over, has given hope to Mamata that the Marxists in the state are now vulnerable.

Her recent gains in the Panskura Lok Sabha by-poll and her party's good showing in the Calcutta civic body polls have convinced her and her followers that the 'mighty' Marxists can be dethroned with little help from friends, chiefly the BJP-led NDA government.

TDP chief Nara Chadrababu Naidu had visited West Bengal and supported Mamata's claims that law and order in the state had broken down and that there was a good case for central rule.

The new-found bonhomie between chiefs of the Trinamul and the TDP has not gone unnoticed in the media. Since these two NDA allies have some grouse with the Vajpayee government, there have been occasional reports that these two virtually joining hands could bode ill for the government.

But veteran BJP workers ridiculed that notion.

" Mamata is back in the government. West Bengal is going to the assembly polls next year. She needs the BJP more than the BJP needs her party. Can anyone deny it? As far as the TDP is concerned, the situation is similar. Naidu has his own problems in Andhra Pradesh and he needs help. Besides, he has many vital projects going in his state that cannot be possible without the Vajpayee government's help and consideration. Naidu stands to gain manifold by staying with the NDA," said Nandu Dixit, a veteran BJP worker.

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