NEWS
ANALYSIS
SPECIALS
INTERVIEW
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
ISSUES
GALLERY
MANIFESTOS
OVERHEARD
INDIA SPEAKS!
DISCUSSION GROUP
CHAT
PREVIOUS RESULTS

NDA focuses on Vajpayee, Vajpayee and Vajpayee

Amberish K Diwanjee in New Delhi

The manifesto of the National Democratic Alliance asks the people to give the alliance a decisive majority to ensure its continuation in power for the next five years.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the star of the NDA, released it on Monday at a gala function in New Delhi. All top NDA leaders were present, including George Fernandes, Ramakrishna Hegde, Muthuvel Karunanidhi and S S Barnala.

Also present was Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, whose National Conference party is not part of the NDA and has in fact put up candidates against the alliance in Kashmir. His presence was explained away as "he is our supporter."

However, Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamul Congress is also a supporter of the NDA but is not part of it, was absent.

The thrust of the NDA clearly is its performance over the past year, especially its role in affairs of security and defence, and Vajpayee. It is clear that the entire NDA is riding on Vajpayee's shoulders. His is the only face that adorns the manifesto. Even at the Shamiana hall where the manifesto was released, huge pictures of Vajpayee were put up, including one of him and the soldiers at Kargil.

When asked why other leaders were not shown in the manifesto, Vajpayee laughed and replied, "I'll ask my publishers about this mistake."

Vajpayee said that the alliance was a stable one. "The NDA is nothing more than a mirror of the diversity of India, reflecting the pluralism. We are seeking a decisive mandate based on our performance in office to provide a stable government for the next five years," he said.

The prime minister insisted that a coalition can work provided all its members have a common approach, but was at a loss to explain the fractious fights over George Fernandes' statement that if the BJP did not accept the Janata Dal-United in the NDA fold, then the Samata Party and Hegde's Lok Shakti would pull out.

It may be recalled that Fernandes and Hegde have announced their plans to merge their respective parties with the JD-U, making it the largest partner of the NDA after the BJP. However, the BJP unit of Karnataka is against giving any extra seats to the JD-U to contest.

'Talks are going on between the BJP and the JD-U and it will be resolved," was all that Vajpayee would say.

Fernandes sat impassively next to Vajpayee. Fernandes, said Vajpayee, was present because he was the convenor of the NDA.

The prime minister strongly refuted charges that during his tenure, communal violence had increased. "On the contrary, during the past year, India has seen no major communal violence. There were a few minor incidents in Gujarat and elsewhere, all of which were put down firmly by the local authorities," he declared.

The senior BJP leader said the manifesto reflected both change and continuity from the past vis-a-vis the national agenda for governance that was put out in 1998. "We have fulfilled some of our promises of 1998, but many remain since we were not given the time," he said.

The manifesto said the NDA seeks to create a proud and resurgent India, a theme that was harped on with references to the nuclear tests at Pokhran last year and the Kargil war. It added that national security would be strengthened.

The prime minister said the NDA would seek a national consensus on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty after the election. "It is an important issue that will need the approval of all parties," he stated.

Referring to his statement that there could be no talks with Pakistan as long as Islamabad supported cross-border terrorism, he agreed that there was no common ground for talks. "But a common ground will have to be found once a new government takes office and I am sure it will," he said.

Vajpayee insisted that his government had not stalled the Bofors case. "The papers have been moving, they have not been static over the past year. We are now awaiting the last batch of papers and once that is received, we will hand them over to the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate and file a case in the court."

The manifesto states that India can only be build by Indians. But it promises to continue with the reform process. It states that the NDA will ensure a growth of 7 to 8 per cent and towards that end, and has given the clarion call Berozgari hatao (Remove unemployment).

While the manifesto says that it will strengthen the national industries and help them become trans-national companies, it warns that India cannot do without foreign direct investment. "FDI brings in capital, technology, new market practises and most importantly, employment."

The manifesto rejects complete state control and complete market freedom, saying a judicious combination of both will be pursued.

Interestingly, the manifesto has called for reforming the nation's administration set-up, including the police and civil services, along with reviewing the Constitution. It has sought a moratorium for five years on all contentious issues to allow the country to focus on eradicating poverty and ensuring growth.

Asked whether he would like the President's powers reviewed, he said the review commission would have to examine the matter.

The manifesto seeks to introduce the German system of 'Constructive vote of no-confidence' in place of the present one. It involves the opposition categorical declaring its ability to form a government before moving the no-confidence motion.

Incidentally, the manifesto makes no mention of that fact that it would like to bring about a constitutional amendment to bar persons of foreign origin from holding high offices in India.

Jaswant Singh, in his clipped accent, read out the salient features of the manifesto, which spoke on the usual aspects of providing jobs for all, compulsory and free education up to class 5, providing social justice, genuine secularism etc.

Tell us what you think of this report