CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The Election Day Results Chat

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:54)

Sai: Rajiv is no more. I don't think it behoves me to continue to make charges. This is not the Indian ethos. Even under the law, no criminal case can be filed against a dead person. However, I did take the stand that the Congress has resorted to statements that were not right. Starting from saying that no money has been paid in Bofors. When that was proved wrong, the Congress said that monies were paid but they were of the nature of winding up charges.

When that was proven wrong, they said No Indian has taken the money. When that was proved wrong because Win Chhada had taken the money they shifted their position again. So I charged them of misleading the country. And my charges were proven right. Clinton may not be removed because of the sex scandal but certainly, he will loose his Presidency if it is proved that he has said things which were not true.

Secondly, I charge the Congress of a cover up which is obvious by the free movement in and out of the country of MR WIN CHADDHA and Mr QUATTROCCHI in spite of their names being known. And the removal of top CBI officials which has shown results in the Bofors bribery case. And also proven by the Solanki episode and whitewashing by the Joint Parliamentary Committee report.

Thangabalu (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:55)

Psmith: The Congress party is the second largest party in this election. Along with the UF, the majority mandate is against the BJP and its allies. This is the ground reality in the country. Naturally, the Congress-led governmen at the Centre is the only answer and the Congress is the only party which can give a better governance than any other party in the country. The performance of the Congress in the last fifty years is there in front of everyone in the country and elsewhere. Who else can give a better government than the Congress?

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:55)

continued to Sai on Bofors: So my stance on both counts stand vindicated. However, I am not in favour in implicating persons against whom they did not have hard evidence.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:56)

NIKHIL: Could you clarify bipartisan?

Sudheendra Kulkarni (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:57)

Chana: Thanks for your very interesting question. I'm touched by your good wishes for the BJP. Let me answer by saying that if we unilaterally announce that we will sit in the Opposition this time, when we are only 20 short of the majority, it will send a wrong message to the people of India -- to our supporters and opponents alike -- that the BJP is incapable of being a ruling party and can only perform the role of the permanent Opposition. We would rather make an honest effort to form a government this time -- and this we will do because we alone have secured the people's mandate to govern -- and give good governance and on that basis come back with a bigger majority in the next election.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:58)

Prab: Yes, my innings are over. So I am neither batting nor am I a coach. I am a commentator. And this freedom of speech cannot be taken away. I am not manipulating. I am interpreting the political scenario.

Thangabalu (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:58)

It is true that every Congressmen in the country accept her as the natural leader of the party including me and my leader Sitaram Kesri. Nobody can question her leadership in the Congress.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 7:59)

abc: Yes it would. And if the TDP is not agreeable to support a Congress-led government even from outside. Then in my personal opinion the UF should allow the BJP to form the government. And save the unity of the United Front.

Sudheendra Kulkarni (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:1)

To Nikhil and all Rediff readers: Thanks for this opportunity to chat with you. It has been short but enjoyable. To all Rediff regulars in India and especially abroad, we would like to especially reassure that come the middle of March, India will have a government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a government that will be honest and earnest in serving the people well and improving the global image of India. If God and the people of India give us an opportunity to rule for full 5 years, it will be a stronger, more prosperous and more self-confident India that we will all see in the year 2003.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:2)

Nikhil: I think on certain national issues concerning the people irrespective of parties, there should be a dialogue and a consensus arrived. More than the political parties a consensus is also necessary among the thinking persons and opinion makers, social activists and the people. There was a consensus during the freedom movement and also after that. That old consensus is now withering away a new consensus taking care of new aspirations need to be formed.

Thangabalu (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:2)

Psmith: She is the only leader who has campaigned for the party in this election all over the country and her contribution for reviving the Congress and her committment to the people are unequalled. It is not the question of Rajiv Gandhi's wife alone. Her emergence as the leader of the Congress in the country had created a new dimension of support for the weaker sections and the poor.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:4)

Rajasaab: Bipartisan meaning issues that are not partisan, unique to only one party.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:4)

Here is the most awaited guest. We have finally got Ms Sushma Swaraj here with us now. The general secretary and the tallest woman leader of the party (or the country!) is with us now...

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:5)

mgarg: I went on record on the floor of the House beseeching the youth that even to fight me, you have to live. I have children of young age and I can feel the agony of the families. I have lost my brother and my nephew in unnatural deaths when they were shot by dacoits. If the press at that time even projected the 25 per cent of the views of the SC, these incidents would not have taken place. The anger would have been against the government properties and the government. But there would not have been self-immolations.

Thangabalu (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:6)

Jagadish: We are not anti-BJP. We are against communalism. India is the only country where secular values have been kept alive by the Congress and like-minded parties such as the UF. There is nothing wrong in the Congress and the UF coming together to strengthen the basic values of secularism. India needs total communal harmony. We need to support all sections of people including the minorities for which we need a government that works with continuity and with more and more commitment. Thereby the country can progress very well and I hope the Congress can give that kind of good government. My personal thanks to all friends all over the world. Thank you.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:9)

Roy: VP has no right to give bail. It is something which only the judiciary can only do which has even bailed out Jayalalitha. As for me, I am for firm action against those who are guilty but the innocents should not be harrassed as was done in the hawala case implicating the whole political spectrum including Advaniji. And let me inform me that I never met Laloo Yadav after his release.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:10)

vivek: Yes disastrous for economic offenders and for vested interests.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:10)

Vazhappadi Ramamurthi welcomes all readers.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:10)

Vivek; Everything is fine at BJP headquarters. The mood of the leaders and the workers is upbeat. The possibility of forming the government has been converted into a certainty. In the next week you will have a BJP-led government under the able leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:11)

Sushmaji: What happens if Ms J Jayalalitha demands that the DMK government be dismissed in return for her support?

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:13)

rajg: Since 1994, I am not a member of any party. And I stand for action against anyone who has done wrong. But who has done wrong or not, it is for the court to decide. Even when the hawala case came, I did not take the name of Advaniji and Khurana. And after they have paid the political price of unsubstatiated charges now the court has come to the conclusion that they are innocent. So, let us not pre-judge.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:14)

Govinda: Show me a single statement supporting any person.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:15)

Chana: I assure you that your apprehensions will not come true and given the amiability and capability of our leader Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee we will be able to provide not only a stable but also a good government for the country. As regards the demands and conflicts of our alliance partners we are going to have a meeting with all our alliance partners and things would be sorted out before the formation of the government. There is no question of compromising with our values and principles. But we will certainly form a national agenda based on consensus on which we will identify those issues which need to be addressed immediately. And please don't express the doubts of breakng the government before its formation. Wish us well.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:17)

ABC: The difference is very small. It will not be difficult to get this number, but to specify in details will not be correct on my part, because the success of such strategies lies in its secrecy. But certainly you will come to know not only the number but also the names of our supporters.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:17)

In contiuation to Govinda's answer: I meant to say that I did not support or oppose any individual in the power struggle in JD after I resigned from Parliament and the membership of the JD in 1994.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:18)

Archana: Not at all. The atmosphere is very conducive, the tempers are very cool. No nervousness, no panic and no worry. We are absolutely confident of forming the government.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:18)

Sushmaji: What has been your experience in UP?

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:20)

PN: There is no doubt about it. The Congress today has given up its claim of forming the government, because there was a sharp division amongst the constituents of the UF over the issue of support to a Congress-led government. Therefore in the absence of other claimants the honourable President will immediately call the leader of the BJP and its allies after the constitution of the 12th Lok Sabha.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:20)

Re Joining hands with AIADMK and BJP: Present day politics never knows any ethics, philosophy or any policy. Most of the political parties barring one or two, they will not participate in any election, most of the political parties are only going by political power through democratic elections.

If you want me to quote the words of Chidambaram and Murasoli Maran, no party in this country is untouchable. The electoral understanding is only to mobilise the votes of different political parties to win the seats in order to avoid division among the parties. I never used to attach any greater policies and principle in electoral alliances. These things made me easy to align with the BJP.

Rediff team@ Congress HQ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:21)

An interesting piece of information from the AICC, for all of you -- Jagdambika Pal, the defeated hero of the UP political drama was here in for a short while.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:21)

Raoy: Who is the remotest among the two. And you are missing, the third remote in Maharashtra?

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:21)

V P Singhji: VEry VEry good. For the first time, the BJP was able to give a rebuff to your kind of politics.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:23)

Nikhil: No such demand has come from Ms Jayalalitha. If it comes we will examine it strictly within the parameters of our constitution.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:23)

RANG: kam se kam aap ne to puccha.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:24)

Sushma Swaraj: Thanks for accepting my politics. And you will see the fireworks when you form the government.

Nikhil: It is true that Ms Jayalalitha has not put forward any precondition in forging the allaince with the BJP. But the present condition warrants in the light of the interim report of the Jain Commission and also the law and order situation in TN very much the new government headed by the BJP to have a serious discussion and to see the present helpless DMK government to be thrown out. I hope that the new government will examine this very seriously in order to save TN from atrocities of militants and communal elements aided by our neighbouring so-called friendly countries.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:27)

Rang: Certainly. Mr Bhandari has been guilty of committing a crime against our Constitution. This is not an ordinary crime. And I think he has been punished to a great extent by the people of Uttar Pradesh by giving a sweeping verdict in favour of the BJP and also by the courts by reviving the Kalyan Singh government and by the legislatures of UP by giving a vote of confidence to Kalyan Singhji by a substantial number. I think for a political person such punishements are more effective than criminal action. If he has any sense of shame he should resign from this great office. Otherwise time is not far off when he will be removed with all the disgrace.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:29)

gecko2: There are difficulties in UF and Congress coming together because they have contradictions at the state level. If these contradictions are not resolved the government will not last long. And the need is to sort out these contradictions. Maintain the unity of the United Front. Therefore, keeping the BJP out cannot be the sole agenda. Whoever, gets the majority, BJP or CONG and UF combine, if they come together. They have the right for governance. It is as simple as that. I feel that there should be a debate, we should not rush to it. Because we are in a transition period. The various social sections are realigning themselves, therefore there is political instability. But I am sure after a few years, stability will come, I predicted this eight years back. That it will take about a decade to come out of the transitional period.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:29)

V P Singhji: We didn't accept your kind of politics. It was an isolated action just to teach a lesson to our adversaries who always indulge in such kind of politics to stop the BJP. I can assure you that UP will remain an aberration and will never become a part of BJP politics.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:30)

Vivek; I think that it is the prerogative of the prime minister. And I should not interfere in his jurisdiction.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:32)

Bose: Well, Sanyas is a big word to use. My detachment from politics is limited to electoral politics till 1999. It means that I am not contesting or going for an election campaign, being a member of any party or any political set-up. However, my sanyas does not extend to my capabilities of political analysis and expression of my views.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:32)

Ghayal: The UF government, headed by Mr Gujral, has come out very clearly that the ISI of Pakistan is behind the Coimbatore blasts. This shows the UF government is helpless in preventing these intrusion of the ISI in our country. Particularly the government at the state level, the DMK was sleeping over this matter in spite of several warning. That shows they are unable to govern and are hand in glove with these conspirators beacuse of simple electoral support.

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:32)

Sushmaji: Now, you have taught me a lesson. When will you learn one?

V P SINGH, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:34)

EVERYONE: IT WAS A NICE EXPERIENCE CHATTING WITH YOU. HOPE TO MEET YOU AGAIN. THANKS. GOODBYE.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:35)

PN: Thanks for your congratulations. I will not mark that mistake beacuse the Congress is in shambles with full of power hungry people. They are preapred to even align with the DMK for the sake of power even though the DMK is one of the conspirators who have aided and harboured the Rajiv Gnadhi killers, that is the LTTE.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:35)

Ravik: I think the BJP's stand on women's issues is very clear. In the philosophy of Hindutva there has never been subjugation of women. In the traditional Indian sense there is a quotation, "Yatra naryastu poojyante ramante tatre devethah," meaning wherever women are worshipped, gods live there. Therefore, this is a misinformation and a disinformation that women are subjugated in the tradiotnal Indian sense.

As regards the BJP's stand on women's issues I should make it clear that we have chalked out a three point programme for the upliftment of Indian women.

1. By education

2. By making them reconomically self dependent

3. By political empowerment

And the BJP government at the Centre will leave no stone unturned to achieve this.

vivekg: We are bent upon dismissing the DMK government.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:37)

V P Singhji: I don't need to learn one because we don't indulge in such kind of politics. As I said earlier it was only an aberration, that too with a specific purpose.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:39)

Thank you, Mr Singh, for spending 90 minutes with us.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:39)

rang: The DMK will do anything to save the government, including, I will not be surprised if they support even the BJP government from outside. If the BJP accepts or wants the support of the DMK, then they have to forget the support of the 30 MPs from Tamil Nadu under the leadership of the AIADMK alliance. I don't think the BJP will make that mistake.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:40)

Raj G: I think V P Singhji is evading this question about Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's daughter because it is embarassing for him to answer. The BJP's commitment to the issue of Kashmir is very, very well known. I can only reiterate and reaffirm that commitment. If such thing happens with any of the BJP leaders, the nation's interest will always remain uppermost in our mind and will not be sacrificed for any kith and kin or our leader or minister.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:42)

vivekg:I don't think the dismissal of the DMK government is setting a bad precedent. In Indian democracy, these kind of things have been done umpteen number of times.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:43)

Magan: I did not personally talk to the leaders of the TDP. But since the principle of non-Congressism is common between the TDP and BJP they will have their leanings towards the BJP. A formal contact will also be established with their leaders by those who will be entrusted with this resonsibility by our leaders.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:46)

Raoy: Thank you for this kind gesture of yours. Such wishes and support from people in India and abroad will provide strength to our government.

Rediff@cyber club (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:48)

Mr V P Singh has left. And that's all for tonight from all of us at Cyber Cafe

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:48)

Raoy: I think the people of India blasted the Congress-UF conspiracy, to bring us to power.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:48)

Sushmaji: What will you promise Chandrababu Naidu in exchange for support? And what happens to poor Laxmi Sivaparvati? Will you dump the poor widow?

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:49)

Rediff@Cyber Club: Many thanks for everything. Super show. Good night.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:49)

Mr V Ramamurthy: Will you support the BJP government?

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:51)

Bose: The UF government was not a government indeed. It was an arrangement born out of compulsion. It did not have the stamp of the electorate whereas the BJP-led coalition has got the people's mandate to rule this country. And in a democracy this mandate is sacrosanct. Which precisely gives you authority to govern. As regards the steps, have faith in the ability and the capacity of our leader. He is capable enough to ensure the stability of this government.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:51)

gecko: Article 356 in the Constitution is the only Article given powers to the central government to dismiss state governments wherever they could not function and could not carry out the constitutional responsibilities and obligations. Right from the inception of our Constittion, there were several governments wanting the scraping of Article 356 and several political parties were also demanding scraping of Article 356 from the Constitution. But most of these parties, sometime or the other, they were in government, but never applied or attempted to apply their minds to scrap Article 356. Why? because they know without this article, no government will govern the country and they cannot also ensure the nation's integrity and sovereignty. In a country where you have multi racial and multi lingual and multi religious population, it has to remain.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:52)

Nikhil: The question does not arise at all beacuse we fought the election in alliance with the BJP.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:54)

Koothan: I am no longer in the Congress headed by Mr Kesri. At present there is no doubt about the fact that we will support only the BJP-led government.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:54)

Raoy: You have raised a very valid question and I can assure you that this demand of yours of providing basic facilities to our citizens, especially women, will find a top place on our national agenda.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:55)

So Mr Ramamurthy, is that not contradictory for a party named after Rajiv Gandhi, drawing from the secular tradition of the Congress to support the BJP!

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:55)

rajg: As I said earlier, dismisaal of the DMK government was not our condition at all. But we will continue to strive for that. I am sorry you have fallen trap to the media propaganda about our Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress party.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:55)

Mrs Swaraj: You have already dumped Mrs Sivaparvati, and you talk of a fair deal for women!

George Iype, Congress HQ: (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:56)

We are now signing off after three hectic and exciting days at the Congress headquarters. It was great fun to interact with the Congress leaders at close quarters. We thank all of you for the spectacular live commentary and chats. We very much wish to take up similar challenging assignments, but we are definitely not ready for an immediate election. Keeping our fingers crossed!!!

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:57)

nachiketa: My assessment about the DMK will be confirmed. That they will go all out to take any decision to support the BJP government, in order to save their government.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:57)

Mrs Swaraj: Will Mr Advani serve in the BJP government? There is also talk that you will have an outsider -- someone like Dr Manmohan Singh -- as your finance minister?

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:58)

Thank you Rediff@ Congress office for the spectacular show. It was wonderful work, and I salute you all for your achievement.

SUSHMA SWARAJ (Wed Mar 4 1998 8:58)

To dear Rediff readers in India and abroad: It was really nice to be with you for about an hour, taking your good wishes and answering your queries. I will meet you again after the BJP forms the government. Wishing you all the very best! Vande Mataram!

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:0)

Nikhil: The coining of the word 'secular' and 'non-secular' is like the Communist parties branding other political parties progressive or reactionary. Only this much of weight I am giving to words like secular and non secular. Every political party in the country must be secular as per the Constitution. Otherwise, they are not eligible to conduct the elections. These are all the old bogey in the name of secularism.

A party which you are branding has secured more than 200 seats in Parliament. People of the country, knowing fully well about the policy of the BJP have voted for them. In a democracy, people's verdict has much more credence over individual opinions.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:2)

Bharath: This conclusion of yours is for the 1998 election or the other elections to come? So long as we are comfortable with the BJP, we will continue.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:3)

Ms Mamata Banerjee is supporting the government from outside, will you also do the same or will you join the government?

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:4)

Which, Mr Ramamurthy, is the better government? The one headed by Ms J Jayalalitha or the one headed by Mr M Karunanidhi, and why?

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:4)

gecko: I am sorry you have misunderstood me. Everybody knows India is federal. Within the federalism, Article 356 is also an accepted framework in our Constitution.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:5)

That was Sushma Swaraj chatting with you for an hour. She thoroughly enjoyed her first experience on the net. And has promised to be back on Rediff soon as the government is formed. Perhaps as the Union minister of information and broadcasting.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:7)

Nikhil: I do not know what kind of qualifications you are attaching to the word 'the better government'. As far as I am concerned, the AIADMK has provided better government than the DMK now. This I realised only after the DMK government has been in office from 1996. The events which are shocking the entire nation is a definite proof of that.

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:8)

Koothan: there is no doubt the BJP will form the stable government. Thanks to all of you. I hope you will also wish the new government to be a stable one!

Vazhappady Ramamurthi (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:11)

Govind: just now I saw Govind's question. I thank you very much for voting for me. Definitely I will not disastisfy you, I will serve the constituency as per your wishes.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:14)

The political situation here is almost settled with the BJP supremely confident of a majority. As Bangaru Lakshman has already confirmed to us the TDP's support the BJP is waiting for a word from Naidu. Most probably it wouold be a minority government with an assurance from the TDP and allies that they would save the day of the vote of confidence for the BJP government.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:17)

We, Savera R Someshwar, Subhashree and Rajesh Ramachandran are signing off. WE had a great time here for thelast three days of hectic political activities. We enjoyed it thoroughly and we hope you too had a great time!

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:18)

I, Babu Bhaskar welcome all of you.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:18)

Thank you Rediff@ BJP HQ for the spectacular show. It was wonderful work, and I salute you all for your achievement.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:23)

I am a journalist. Retired as Associate Editor of the Deccan Herald way back in 1991. Working as Editorial Adviser and Consultant to Asianet News. We were doing a live election programme from Delhi during the last three days.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:27)

milin: I dont think anyone is in a position to give any inside stuff at the moment. The parties are in the process of discussing the elevction results within their fora and also are engaged in consultations with one another. It will be quite some time before anything definite will emerge, because the results of the elction do not offer much room for easy decisions.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:31)

You must have covered elections before. What was so different about this election?

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:32)

Nikhil: The final picture is that there is no one who can claim to have a mandate. My own reading of the mandate is that the people of India are asking for a realignment of political forces. I am of the view that this was the message they gave in 1996 also. But parties and the media failed to understand it.

It is like this: the BJP said give us a chance, you have tried all the others. The Congress asked for a mandate too. So did the UF this time. The voters' collective answer to them is: NO. To me, this means, they are asking the parties to realign themselves. The people are not willing to place enough trust in any single party or combination available now.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:36)

Nikhil: I think we see the first signs of the emergence of three major forces -- one that can be labelled right, another that can be called centrist and a third that can be put down as left. The virtual disappearance of "other parties and Independents" in the results chart indicates that there has to be a coming together of two of these forces.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:38)

Indian politics, for most of its life, has been dominated by one party. Do you see the BJP occupying the space that the Congress occupied for most of these 50 years?

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:38)

psmith: I see nothing immoral in post-poll alliances. It is standard practice in many countries of Europe for parties to fight elections on their own manifestos and then enter into coalitions to run the government. The situation in India now is that neither the BJP nor the Congress, the two largest forces, can form a government without enlisting the support of some post-poll ally.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:43)

Nikhil: The Congress was essentially a coalition of various socio-economic elements. That coalition has broken down. Some of these elements have gone into parties like Samajwadi and Bahujan Samaj (this is quite evident in UP). The BJP which started out with a narrow base is now broadening its base and becoming a new coalition of different socio-economic forces. The BJP certainly has taken the place of the Congress in some places already. But in some other areas, the different elements have gone into different parties.

Nikhil Lakshman (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:46)

As someone who worked in Bangalore for some years, how do you explain the BJP's growth in Karnataka?

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:49)

Psmith: There is a section in the Congress and UF which feels that they should not form a coalition government, and must instead let BJP form the government. Their expectation is that that government will not last long, and when it collapses they can come forward to offer an alternative government. As things stand, the BJP is not in a position to form a government unless it can break the UF or Congress.

One thing we must remember is that there has to be a government. Now, who can provide it? The BJP as the largest party would appear to be the one that must do it. But where can it find the numbers needed to get a majority? At the moment it has 250 seats. Outside of the Congress and UF there are only 21 members. Even if the BJP gets the support of all 21, it will be one short of 272 needed for majority in the LS. That means it needs defectors from the Congress or UF to form a government.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:53)

PN: The BJP is looking to the TDP as a potential ally. To take the TDP aboard it will have to ditch its poll ally, the NTR-TDP, which could not win any seat anyway. The TDP's rival for power in AP is the Congress. So the TDP may not feel very comfortable in the company of the Congress. SO far the TDP has not taken a firm position. It is keeping its options open.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 9:55)

Psmith: Whoever is asked by the President to form a government will be required to take a confidence vote first. It will be quite difficult for any party to abstain in a confidence vote at that stage, although abstentions at a later stage to prevent the fall of government is a possibility.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 10:0)

Nikhil: The BJP had a small presence in Karnataka to begin with. This was in the big cities. In 1991, when the Ram shilanyas campaign was on, it was able to spread its influence to some small towns. There were some communal clashes during that period. This also led to some Hindu consolidation. In 1996, however, it could not do well. My own feeling is that while the Hindus were all for having a temple in Ayodhya they did not quite appreciate the pulling down of the Babri Masjid. This time, it has been able to come back.

What has really happened is that BJP has replaced the JD as the main anti-Congress force in the State. It is likely that the JD's anti-Congress edge was damaged by the partnership with the COngress at the national level during the past one-and-a-half years.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 10:7)

Anurag: Yes, right now there are only 535 seats. The BJP has 250. So they need only 18 now. Out of the 21, five are BSP. After the UP experience, it is an open question whether the BSP will go with the BJP right now. When all 543 seats are filled, the BJP's chances of improving its tally is limited by the fact that three of the seats are from the Kashmir valley where it cannot hope to win. So at the most it could expect 255, and will need 17 to secure majority support. So it cannot make it except by breaking the UF or creating the Loktantrik Congress a la UP.

Babu Bhaskar (Wed Mar 4 1998 10:14)

Thank you, everyone. Babu Bhaskar