There was a time when the BJP proudly boasted that it was a party with a difference. It proclaimed that it was a highly disciplined political party. Even the people of India believed that the BJP deserved a chance and gave them a mandate to rule. They did a commendable job for the 6 years they were in power. That was when it was led by arguably the best politician this country has ever seen - Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, our former PM. He was a leader par excellence. Mr. Vajpayee was the liberal face of the BJP. He had a great vision to take this country forward.
It was probably the best decade for the BJP. Then, it lost power. That was the beginning of the decline. It simply lost the charisma it enjoyed during the Vajpayee era. It has now lost back to back general elections and with it, the stomach to digest and learn from defeats.
As a result, the BJP today has become a party of diffidence. The only other leader who has national appeal - Mr. LK Advani, is being undermined by his own party colleagues. The 2nd rung leaders like Modi, Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh etc are capable but except a couple, lack a mass base. They are always trying outdo each other and harming the party as a result. The BJP national president Mr. Rajnath Singh, a typical UP satrap, and is pitting one leader against another in a bid to stay on the top.
The principal opposition party in the country today, is totally confused and directionless. Every other day, the party is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Immediately after the 2004 election debacle, Advani realised that Vajpayee's liberal way was the only way to power. So, when he went to Pakistan and called Jinnah secular, he had a bigger picture and 2009 elections in mind. Unfortunately, his colleagues were not so shrewd and made a big hue and cry. Advani had to resign from the party President's post. It's a different matter that Advani was then again acknowledged as the BJP's best bet and he was projected as the BJP's PM in waiting.
However, Advani's dream remained just that - dream. BJP's leaders and strategists committed so many crucial blunders in the run-up to the elections - Arun Jaitely getting miffed at a crucial time; Narendra Modi being projected as bigger than Advani; losing crucial allies like BJD; and to top it, Varun Gandhi's communal comments - All these were nails in the coffin for Advani's hopes of his entry to 7, Race Course Road.
Unfortunately for BJP, the trouble simply doesn't seem to end. The party is going downhill at a furious pace. After the elections, when some top leaders like Jaswant Singh, Arun Shourie etc tried to pin the reasons for the defeat, they were silenced. The party President started acting like an autocrat just to save his skin and due to this, other top leaders started expressing their feelings in the public. This lead to chaos and widespread criticism.
The latest in this BJP saga is the unceremonious sacking of Jaswant Singh. It is quite ridiculous that one of the founding members of the party -- one who held such crucial responsibilities both in the NDA government and in the party -- was dumped in such disrespectful manner just for writing a book.
Clearly, the BJP is doldrums. Party workers and rank and file are disillusioned and have started deserting it. However, it is very important that BJP remains a potent political force in our country to avoid a one party show. It should get itself out of the rut and perform the role of a responsible opposition. Else, it won't even be the main opposition party in the next election and will go into oblivion.
There are a few steps which the BJP must immediately take to avoid sliding further. They are -
1. Sack Rajnath Singh and his cronies immediately and declare Advani as the interim President.
2. Stop infighting.
3. Take back Jaswant Singh.
4. Disown Varun Gandhi.
5. Draw a line between the roles played by RSS and BJP.
6. Groom young leaders who have the capability to take the party forward.
7. Listen to leaders' views in party fora and act on them so that they don't vent it out publicly.
I pray that the political party which I once respected and even considered joining, regains its glory and does justice to Mr. Vajpayee and his vision.
It was probably the best decade for the BJP. Then, it lost power. That was the beginning of the decline. It simply lost the charisma it enjoyed during the Vajpayee era. It has now lost back to back general elections and with it, the stomach to digest and learn from defeats.
As a result, the BJP today has become a party of diffidence. The only other leader who has national appeal - Mr. LK Advani, is being undermined by his own party colleagues. The 2nd rung leaders like Modi, Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh etc are capable but except a couple, lack a mass base. They are always trying outdo each other and harming the party as a result. The BJP national president Mr. Rajnath Singh, a typical UP satrap, and is pitting one leader against another in a bid to stay on the top.
The principal opposition party in the country today, is totally confused and directionless. Every other day, the party is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Immediately after the 2004 election debacle, Advani realised that Vajpayee's liberal way was the only way to power. So, when he went to Pakistan and called Jinnah secular, he had a bigger picture and 2009 elections in mind. Unfortunately, his colleagues were not so shrewd and made a big hue and cry. Advani had to resign from the party President's post. It's a different matter that Advani was then again acknowledged as the BJP's best bet and he was projected as the BJP's PM in waiting.
However, Advani's dream remained just that - dream. BJP's leaders and strategists committed so many crucial blunders in the run-up to the elections - Arun Jaitely getting miffed at a crucial time; Narendra Modi being projected as bigger than Advani; losing crucial allies like BJD; and to top it, Varun Gandhi's communal comments - All these were nails in the coffin for Advani's hopes of his entry to 7, Race Course Road.
Unfortunately for BJP, the trouble simply doesn't seem to end. The party is going downhill at a furious pace. After the elections, when some top leaders like Jaswant Singh, Arun Shourie etc tried to pin the reasons for the defeat, they were silenced. The party President started acting like an autocrat just to save his skin and due to this, other top leaders started expressing their feelings in the public. This lead to chaos and widespread criticism.
The latest in this BJP saga is the unceremonious sacking of Jaswant Singh. It is quite ridiculous that one of the founding members of the party -- one who held such crucial responsibilities both in the NDA government and in the party -- was dumped in such disrespectful manner just for writing a book.
Clearly, the BJP is doldrums. Party workers and rank and file are disillusioned and have started deserting it. However, it is very important that BJP remains a potent political force in our country to avoid a one party show. It should get itself out of the rut and perform the role of a responsible opposition. Else, it won't even be the main opposition party in the next election and will go into oblivion.
There are a few steps which the BJP must immediately take to avoid sliding further. They are -
1. Sack Rajnath Singh and his cronies immediately and declare Advani as the interim President.
2. Stop infighting.
3. Take back Jaswant Singh.
4. Disown Varun Gandhi.
5. Draw a line between the roles played by RSS and BJP.
6. Groom young leaders who have the capability to take the party forward.
7. Listen to leaders' views in party fora and act on them so that they don't vent it out publicly.
I pray that the political party which I once respected and even considered joining, regains its glory and does justice to Mr. Vajpayee and his vision.
4 comments:
Excellent post - brilliant analysis. I agree with most of the points you mentioned as the steps to be taken. Except that I think Advani is past his prime and past his time. BJP should take it to the youngsters now (not the Varun Gandhi breed of course)
@Kiran - Thanks!
I agree that Advani has passed his prime. But he is the only leader authoritative enough to stop all the clatter that's going on.
Hence, I feel, in the interim, he the BJP's best bet. He can put a succession plan in place.
@Ritvvij, Welcome.
1. Reg Advani, as I told Kiran, he is the BJP's best bet for now.
2. I agree that RSS cannot be kept away from the BJP. However, their role in the party must be clearly defined. Also, once the BJP is controlled by RSS, it will be painted a hard core Hindu party which can harm its prospects.
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