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BJP nurses bold plans for Tamil Nadu

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

The Bharatiya Janata Party plans to take deep root in Tamil Nadu, capitalising on the initial momentum provided by last year's general election.

Though no party leader wants to go on record, the BJP is trying to head an electoral coalition of its own, with hopes of capturing power in the Dravidian state in the new millennium.

"We have the political base, and the impetus provided by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership of the winning coalition in last year's Lok Sabha election from Tamil Nadu," says a state party source. "Now, we have to channelise the same with greater focus and dedication, to try and strike it rich in the state."

By this he means the BJP would "lead a coalition and form part of a future government in Tamil Nadu".

The source pooh-poohs suggestions that the BJP's "dream may remain a dream. Did anyone foresee the possibility of the BJP winning four seats in the Lok Sabha election last year, and the alliance of which it was a party bagging 30 out of the 39 seats from the state?"

He asserts that "last year's victory had been assured by the positive public image of the BJP and Vajpayee's leadership, long before the poll-eve Coimbatore blasts."

The 'future belongs to us', the BJP source says with confidence. "Tamil Nadu is moving away from the 'Dravidian forces', and the BJP's greater acceptance is proof of that. "Unfolding events in the two Dravidian majors, namely the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, will work to our advantage," he says. The younger generation in the two parties are "not shy of identifying themselves with the BJP. Greater still, they are moving towards the BJP," he adds.

In this context, the source refers to the "ready acceptance of the BJP by cadres of the AIADMK, and the pan-Tamil Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam during last year's election. Even the stridently anti-BJP Pattali Makkal Katchi had no problem working with us."

In a way, says the source, "these parties benefited from the BJP's pull for the voters, particularly the opinion-making middle class".

Likewise, adds he, "even the DMK cadres did not have much reservations to the rumours of the party working with the BJP in the days following the 1996 Lok Sabha election. If it did not lead to a post-poll tie-up, the reason lies elsewhere, not with cadre opposition."

The plans are for the BJP to try and form a triangular alliance with the MDMK and the PMK, adding a few more allies as they go along.

"But there is no question of the BJP unilaterally breaking its existing alliance with the AIADMK," asserts the BJP source. "Like any other political party, we are also looking at our long-term political interests."

However, sources in the Tamil Maanila Congress deny his other suggestion of the BJP cutting into their vote bank, saying, "Ours is basically a Congress vote bank, and has remained with us even 30 long years after we lost power in the state, in 1967."

He also questions the possibility of a third front under the BJP, claiming, "Some existing allies of the BJP are already in touch with us for a non-BJP third front in the state."

A two-day, fourth state conference of the BJP will be held at Tiruchi on Saturday and Sunday, to take the first step on the new strategy.

Vajpayee is to be present on the second day, flagging off a huge procession and addressing a public meeting, among others.

Addressing the meeting alongside him will be MDMK chief Vaiko and PMK chief Dr S Ramadoss, among others.

Conspicuous by her absence at Tiruchi will be AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha.

A row had erupted over the state BJP not extending a 'proper invitation' to her. Jayalalitha had objected to state BJP general secretary L Ganesan faxing her an invitation.

That the BJP did not take her protests seriously is borne out by the fact that the state party re-faxed the earlier message -- and stopped with it.

"The idea was not to hurt Jayalalitha," says the BJP source. "Our style of functioning is different from that of the Dravidian parties," he says. "No great significance need to be attached to the issue."

Other BJP sources argue that "Jayalalitha's absence would be a blessing in disguise, as the AIADMK, as is its wont, cannot later claim that the crowds that gathered at Tiruchi had come only to hear Jayalalitha speak, and at her behest, to honour Vajpayee. It also gives us an opportunity to assess, and demonstrate, our own strength, before chalking out the future course."

"We cannot antagonise the AIADMK for any snap polls to the Lok Sabha, and a BJP-led front has to wait for the assembly election, if at all," this leader says, "The Tiruchi visit is part of a nation-wide tour for Vajpayee to assess the impact of the Budget, bus diplomacy and the Bihar issue, prior to taking important political decisions."

He may have a point. The BJP has not let down caution on the Jayalalitha front. The prime minister will skip Madras and reach Tiruchi directly from Calcutta. This is to avoid Jayalalitha having to receive him at the airport only after the governor, and a host of DMK ministers led by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi greet the prime minister.

On earlier occasions, when the AIADMK's continued support to the BJP was doubtful, Jayalalitha had left the city on other work -- the same reason she has now given for not attending the Tiruchi meet.

Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani has cancelled his Tiruchi trip -- he was to have been present on the first day -- and reports refer to Jayalalitha's recent criticism of the Centre revoking the National Security Act detention of People's Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nasser Madani as a possible cause.

"He would have had to answer newsmen's queries on the subject," says the source. "Vajpayee too cannot escape being questioned on the auditor assault issue", allegedly involving Jayalalitha.

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