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News, Opinion, Analysis and Publications Digest
Today's Topics
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BJP may put up stiff fight in AP
BJP move to win over new allies
UF at the verge of collapse: Vajpayee
BJP-Sena to field all sitting MPs
BJP to target "white collar" voters
BJP to project Vajpayee as its moscot
Mamata to have ties with BJP in West Bengal
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: Deccan Herald
BJP may put up stiff fight in AP
DH News Service
HYDERABAD, Dec 6
While Telugu Desam Party and the Congress are sure to slug it out in the
coming elections, this time around the BJP is likely to put up a stiff
fight.
BJP has always been a non-starter in AP, both at the Assembly and Lok Sabha
levels. The BJP has said that its main target in the state would be the TDP.
Giving an indication of the all out fight planned by the BJP, party
president, Mr B Dattatreya said that the party would appeal to the Election
Commission against the decision of the Chandrababu Naidu government to
sanction 5,000 new agricultural power connections and build four lakh houses
for weaker sections.
These decisions were announced last week after it was clear that the nation
was going in for mid- term elections. Although the dates for the election
had not been announced it was common knowledge that they would be held in
February, he said.
The BJP is hopeful of making an impact in the Telangana region whose demand
for a separate statehood the party is supporting and in the coastal region
where it has the support of celluloid figures like Vijayashanti. Mr
Dattatreya said that several other film personalities were planning to join
BJP.
Asked if Vijayashanti would be given a ticket he said that she was yet to
join the party formally. The party`s office bearers would meet here on
Monday to finalise election strategy and seat adjustments with electoral
allies. The BJP has aligned with the NTR-TDP and the Samata party.
In several constituencies, Mr Naidu said, the fight would be between the UF
and the BJP. He said the UF would come out with a new manifesto and would
promise a stabile, transparent, corruption- free government at the Centre.
Poll alliance with HVP in Haryana
PTI reports from Chandigarh that the BJP and Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) would
jointly contest the ensuing Lok Sabha election and field common candidates
for all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the State, Haryana Education Minister Ram
Bilas Sharma said today.
Both the parties had begun their preparations for these elections by
constituting a joint election campaign committee yesterday, he said.
The Lok Sabha elections would be contested keeping in view Mr Atal Behari
Vajpayee as the future prime minister, he said.
''Only 18 months ago, the people of the country had given their mandate in
favour of the party and Mr Vajpayee was made the prime minister, but the
opponents of BJP dishonoured that mandate and unfortunately, the country had
three prime ministers within a short period,`` he said.
Mr Sharma said ultimately the government of 14 political parties crumbled
making it clear that the people had not given their mandate in favour of
such a government.
He urged the people to think seriously before casting their vote so that
they can give a strong government to the country.
Mr Sharma, who is also the leader of the BJP legislature party in the State
Assembly, also made it clear that his party would not enter into an alliance
ith Mr Om Parkash Chautala`s Haryana Lok Dal (national) party.
Mr Sharma said the HVP and BJP were ushering a new era of unprecedented
development in the State and both these parties would fulfil all the
promises made to the people within their five-year tenure.
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Date: Dec. 6, 1997
Source: The Pioneer
BJP move to win over potential defectors
Ajay Singh/New Delhi
Having failed to engineer a split in the Congress, the
Bharatiya Janata Party is making a strategic move to win
over "potential defectors" to its side for the mid-term
elections.
To begin with, the BJP leadership is confident of effecting
a split in the Orissa Janata Dal before the start of its
three-day national executive at Bhubaneshwar, from December
19. The BJP expects two Orissa Dal members of the 11th Lok
Sabha to join the party.
The BJP offensive will be based on the claim that the
party's political isolation was now a worn out myth.
"Half of the JD in Orissa would be with us," BJP sources
claimed. They maintained that with the split in the JD, the
party would make deep inroads in Orissa.
BJP sources said that the imminent split in the Orissa JD
had been crystallised by a high-profile BJP general
secretary, who frequented the state in the past one month.
The party is also expected to make maximum use of the "39
Congress MPs" who have reportedly signed a memorandum
supporting the BJP. "Though the number was more than 40,
only 39 signed the document," BJP leaders who played a
crucial role in effecting the split in the Congress, said.
In a marathon meeting of the BJP's central office bearers
on Friday, the party has also coined a slogan for the
elections: "able leader and stable government." The
meeting, held at the residence of former Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee, also chalked out a multi-pronged
strategy for the polls.
"There is no need to put up a candidate where a
BJP-friendly nominee is in winning position," a senior
party leader said. Obviously, the party considers Mr S
Bangarappa as a potential ally. The party is drawing up a
plan to tie up with new regional forces before the
elections.
On the other hand, the BJP has geared up its election
machinery to project Mr Vajpayee as the prime ministerial
candidate, who, the party feels, is head and shoulders
above aspirants from the Congress and the UF.
The party leadership said, given the "dismal performance"
of the United Front, the BJP would seek a "decisive
mandate" from the people this time.
In effect, the BJP leaders are keen on aggressively selling
the "stability" plank in a bid to marginalise the Congress.
The party would also make a determined attempt to wrest the
legacy of the freedom struggle from the Congress and
project it (Congress) as a group of "self-seeking
unprincipled politicians".
Talking to newspersons here, BJP general secretary M
Venkaiah Naidu said that the central office-bearers would
meet on Saturday to set up committees for election work.
The committees would then work out the details and present
them at the party's national executive.
Mr Naidu said it was strange that Congress president
Sitaram Kesri was not willing to use the Jain Commission
report as an election issue. The BJP would make the
commission report as an important issue in its campaign, he
added.
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: Indian Express
MUMBAI CITY - UF on verge of collapse: Vajpayee
MUMBAI: Former prime minister and Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that the unity
of United Front is at the verge of collapse and it would
whither away in the run-up of the forthcoming Lok Sabha
election. Speaking to mediapersons, Vajpayee said that the
crack in the Front had already emerged from the fact that
its coalition partner Samajwadi Party was intended to join
hands with Congress at the state level to fight the
election. "Today, Congress and corruption is synonymous and
joining Congress is like promoting corruption," he
observed.
He alleged that the Congress was making all out efforts to
check the growing popularity of BJP and stop it from
getting majority in the coming poll by describing it as
"untouchable and communal party". At the same time, the
party is bent upon to grab the power at the Centre at any
cost, he said.
Vajpayee who began his party election campaign in
Maharashtra today, said that BJP would fight the
Parliamentary election on three issues -- stability,
responsibility and integrity. While issues like Ayodhya,
Kashi and Mathura are not on the agenda, the party is
committed to provide clean and corrupt-free government at
the Centre with the support of its allies, reports UNI.
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: Hindustan Times
BJP, Sena not to annoy sitting MPs
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MUMBAI, Dec. 6 (HT Correspondent) Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and
the Shiv-Sena have not only decided to continue their alliance in
Maharashtra but they will also renominate sitting MPs.
Confirming this BJP general secretary Atul Bhatkalkar said on Friday that
all the 18 MPs of the BJP would be given tickets. The Sena supremo made it
clear on Thursday in Nasik that while he expected another hung Parliament,
all sitting 15 Sena MPs would be given the party ticket once again.
Out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Sena had 15, the Congress had 15 while
the BJP had 18 MPs (2 Independent but supported by the BJP) in the Eleventh
Lok Sabha that was dissolved on Thursday.
The Congress on the other hand finds itself for the first time on its own
with even the third front parties not willing to align itself with the
Congress due to what they perceive as treachery of the Congress at the
Centre.
Abu Azmi who heads the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra while emphasising the
need for a secular front to fight the Sena-BJP in Maharashtra made it clear
that an alliance with the Congress was not exactly on their priority list.
However, according to Abu Azmi the final decision would be taken by SP
leader Mulayam Singh Yadav keeping in mind that fragmentation of secular
votes should be avoided. Even Prakash Ambedkar,who had declared that the RPI
would align with the Congress is singing a different tune.
Equally both the BJP-Sena are likely to target top heavy-weight Congress
leader in the State.
It appears that the Congress will try to chalk out some sort of an alliance
with third force or who are also constituents of the United Front.
The third front performed very badly in 1996 general elections. The Sena-BJP
won 38 per cent of votes which was one notch above their Assembly election
results of March '95 where the alliance got 30 per cent of the votes.
The Sena's individual share was 16.84 while the BJP was a shade better at
21.80. Surprisingly, the Congress won 34.80 per cent of the votes, but it
did not translate into seats gained.
Since then the Sena-BJP has done well in Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayats,
making successful inroads into the Congress bastions.
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: indian Express
BJP to make a grab for `white-collar' voters
NEW DELHI, DEC 6: The Bharatiya Janata Party is
banking on ``plush votes'' to give it the decisive
mandate that it hopes to get in the coming
elections. According to party leaders, there are
seven per cent white-collar voters who need to be
motivated to go out and vote.
``These people are well-educated and fully aware
of today's political situation. They are fed up
and want a stable government that only the BJP can
provide this time. But they only hold discussions
in drawing rooms and do not vote. We will tell
them that all we want is one hour of their time on
election day,'' said a party general secretary.
Also to be targeted are floating votes, which are
about 20 per cent in each constituency. Party
cadres are to be mobilised to focus on both these
as well as plush votes.
Today, it was formally announced that L K Advani
would remain BJP President until the elections are
over. BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said at the
party's daily briefing that the party's
presidential elections were to be deferred. The
decision was taken by the BJP's central office
bearers who held a meeting here this morning.
Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee -- the BJP's prime
ministerial candidate are to tour the country for
one month from December 25 to January 25 as part
of the BJP's pre-poll campaign, Swaraj said.
Describing this as an ``extraordinary election'',
she said the BJP was confident of sweeping the
polls. Comparing them to the 1977 and 1989
elections, she said simple electoral arithmetic
would not work. The people would vote in anger --
against instability and corruption and bring the
BJP to power.
Swaraj also said there would be a special thrust
on southern and eastern India because the BJP was
looking for substantial gains from those states.
Not ruling out fresh alliances both before and
after the elections, Swaraj asserted that no
person with a criminal background would be given a
party ticket, as per the Election Commission's
order.
Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders is to meet
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill on Monday
with suggestions on ways to ensure free and fair
elections.
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: Deccan Chronicla
VAJPAYEE MASCOT FOR BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY
POWER BLITZ
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Dec. 6:
The BJP has decided to anchor its election
campaign entirely on Mr A. B. Vajpayee,
harping on his "charisma" and "oratory skills"
to underscore the sharp contrast between him
and the Congress' choice for Prime Minister,
Mr Sitaram Kesri.
The party will kick off its election campaign
on December 25 from either the south or the
east - relatively virgin territories for
saffron - in a bid to shed its north Indian
image. The BJP president, Mr L.K. Advani, and
Mr Vajpayee will lead the month-long campaign
across the nation.
Though Mr Advani will be the "star
campaigner", the overriding theme will be
"Vajpayee for PM", almost akin to the
high-octane US presidential campaigns where
the outcome hinges solely on how an individual
is sold to the voters.
BJP central office-bearers, who met today,
decided that Mr Vajpayee would be projected as
the "tallest statesman" in India. The BJP
feels it could exploit to the hilt the
personality and outwardly liberal attitude of
Mr Vajpayee and "dwarf" Mr Kesri who is not
known for his crowd-pulling ability.
"Our main slogan will be there is a clear
choice between Mr Vajpayee and Mr Sitaram
Kesri. Let people choose between the two," the
BJP spokesperson, Ms Sushma Swaraj, said
today.
Mr Vajpayee, BJP sources said, towered so
"large" that the Congress' Mr Kesri would
"pale in comparison". Although his personality
was played up as the BJP's Unique Selling
Proposition in the 1996 elections - and
yielded positive results in the Hindi
heartland - party strategists believe Mr
Vajpayee would make an impact even in the east
and the south now.
Mr Vajpayee, with his "soft-focus" approach to
Hindutva and a representative of the "liberal"
line in the Sangh Parivar, would also be more
"acceptable" to allies.
It was also officially announced that Mr
Advani would continue to head the party till
elections are over. Sources said Mr Advani
might contest the polls, having been cleared
in the hawala case.
The BJP campaign would also peddle "stability
and good governance", but the party is worried
that these may backfire. The "stability card",
for instance, was weakened by the poor record
of the BJP-ruled states. In none of these has
a BJP government lasted its full-term yet.
The party did not discuss new alliances today,
though Mr S. Bangarappa, who quit the Congress
yesterday, was believed to have approached the
BJP general secretary, Mr Pramod Mahajan, for
exploring the possibility of an electoral
understanding.
Ms Swaraj said the BJP has decided to
concentrate on winning over 20 to 30 per cent
"posh voters" in cities and towns, who, though
politically conscious, do not make the effort
to exercise their franchise.
"We will tell our cadres to motivate the posh
voters by telling them that if they make the
effort to spare just one hour from their
air-conditioned rooms to cast their vote, they
will have a stable BJP government for five
full years," she said.
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Date: Dec. 7, 1997
Source: Deccan Chronicle
Mamata not averse to including BJP in group
The rebel Congress MP, Mamata Banerjee, on Saturday
renewed the call for launching a Bangla Bachao Front
(save Bengal Front) comprising all anti-CPI (M)
forces and hinted that she was not averse to
including BJP in it.
Evading a straight reply to the question if she
would include BJP in the Front, the firebrand leader
wondered how a party recognised by the election
commission and having 162 MPS could be called
untouchable. "India is a democratic country and the
people have elected them,'' she said. Asked if she
considered BJP as a communal party, Banerjee stated
that all political parties had played the communal
cards in their own ways.
She, however, said that the Trinamul Congress
Committee, which was floated in August, had kept its
options open. "We will first discuss the thing among
ourselves." Categorically stating that the Trinamul
Congress would field separate candidates in the
ensuing Lok Sabha election, the MP said that she
would not have any truck with the WBPCC headed by
Somen Mitra. "WBPCC is an ad hoc body," she claimed.
To another question, she said that none from the
Congress high command had contacted her for a
patch-up with Pradesh Congress. Referring to the
visit of the CWC member, Pranab Mukherjee, to her
house in Delhi recently, Banerjee said that it was
for a different purpose.
Referring to the possibility of BJP joining the
proposed Front, the State BJP said that they also
did not consider anyone untouchable but the BJP
would not be a part of that Front unless Mamata came
out of the Congress. State BJP general secretary,
Rahul Sinha, said that she should first come out of
the Congress. Only then the party could consider
joining her Front.
He said that till now the decision was that BJP
would field candidates in all the 42 Lok Sabha seats
but it might change if there was any alteration in
the political situation. The WBPCC, meanwhile, said
that it has no relation with any front and dared the
Trinamul Congress camp to contest the Lok Sabha
election with any symbol other than 'hand'.
WBPCC general secretary and a former Mamata
loyalist, Saugata Roy, said that let them contest
Lok Sabha poll with any free symbol. He said that
WBPCC would explore the possibility of an electoral
adjustment with smaller parties like Jharkhand
Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Forward Bloc (S) and
Gorkha National Liberation Front in Darjeeling.
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End of bjp-l-digest V1 #436
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