Swamy resigned to watchdog's role
Syed Firdaus Ashraf
"I will play the role of a watchdog in Parliament," Dr Subramanian Swamy told Rediff On The NeT from Madras early on Monday morning.
The Janata Party president was widely considered the bone of contention between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party. AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha wanted Dr Swamy to be made finance minister in the BJP-led government, something that was unacceptable to BJP hardliners. Dr Swamy is considered a renegade in BJP circles, having abandoned the Jan Sangh and the RSS in the late seventies.
On Sunday Jayalalitha said the AIADMK, the Pattal Makkal Kattchi and the Thamizhga Rajiv Congress would join the Vajpayee government, pointedly keeping Dr Swamy -- another of her allies -- out of the proceedings.
"Today after Jayalalitha met former finance minister Jaswant Singh, she told me that the BJP had agreed to her six demands, but did not agree on my induction in the Cabinet. So I told her you can give them your decision and I will have no problems," Dr Swamy said.
Asked whether he felt he had been ditched by Jayalalitha, Dr Swamy said, "She tried hard for four days to ensure my entry into the Cabinet. After the BJP agreed to her six demands, only my entry was creating problems. The BJP was adamant. So, I decided not to take part in the government. That was the only practical solution."
"She kept me updated with all the happenings about the meeting with Jaswant Singh," Dr Swamy continued, "So I cannot say she ditched me."
Asked why the BJP had a problem with him, the maverick politician quipped, "You should ask this question to the BJP. I can say the BJP feels I am too smart for them."
Elections '98
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