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Rumours of Vajpayee-Advani rift resurface

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Persistent denials by senior government officials have not completely doused backyard talk about a tussle for political supremacy between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani.

This is the second time perceived differences between the two top Bharatiya Janata Party politicians have come into focus. The first time rumours of an Advani-Vajpayee clash had done the rounds of Delhi's political circles was when Sunder Singh Bhandari, who was appointed governor of Bihar at Advani's behest, was moved to Goa.

The resurfacing of the controversy, when everything seemed to be going well for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, has shaken the party's top leadership.

"The prime minister and the Union home minister are on the best of terms and to portray that there is some sort of tension between them is the handiwork of mischievous elements," a senior PMO official told rediff.com

He, however, did not wish to comment on former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh's expulsion from the party and the rebel politician's claim that he enjoys Advani's tacit support.

Though Kalyan Singh, during a recent visit to New Delhi, was admonished by Advani, who reiterated that his expulsion was a collective decision of the leadership, it has not helped squash rumours that Advani continues to keep in touch with his one-time protégé.

"Advaniji should be careful with the company he keeps. To be seen patronising expelled party rebels does not behove a man of his stature," a BJP vice-president said. He maintained that the prime minister could not be blamed for initiating disciplinary action against Singh.

What has set tongues wagging in Delhi is the resignation of Ashutosh Varshney, mayor of Aligarh, and 17 other councillors in protest against Kalyan Singh's expulsion. Soon after stepping down, Varshney had said he and his associates would soon approach Advani for guidance on their future course of action.

While Advani's supporters say this was a deliberate attempt by Kalyan Singh and company to tarnish the home minister's image, those close to prime minister insist that "there cannot be smoke without fire".

BJP spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu, however, said the controversy was a ''figment of the imagination of frustrated and disgruntled elements" who would be only too glad to see the Vajpayee government go.

While emphasising that Vajpayee and Advani have no problems at all, Naidu pointed out that the government's achievements, including those on the economic front, had "disturbed" the prime minister's critics.

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