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BJP hopes to continue as minority govt in case Jaya pulls out

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Bharatiya Janata Party has chalked out a strategy to continue in power in case All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham chief J Jayalalitha withdraws support to the coalition government at the Centre.

A senior Cabinet minister told Rediff On The NeT last night that the BJP would fully exploit the situation that no other party is presently in a position to form an alternate government.

"Except a small section in the Congress, no political party is ready to face a mid-term poll. As the Congress is not in a position to form a government on its own, we have decided to continue as a minority government," said a BJP source.

Despite the brave facade, the AIADMK threat seems to be haunting the Goa International Centre where the BJP's national executive meeting is being held.

Every encounter of the media with the top BJP leaders starts and ends with only one question -- what would the party's strategy be in case Jayalalitha withdraws support to the government?

"The composition of the Lok Sabha is such that we need not worry even if Jayalalitha withdraws her support," said Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani. He, however, smiled and walked away when the media pestered him to provide a clue on the BJP's strategy in this regard.

"Let us wait and see what happens," said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when the media buttonholed him last night after a Goan cultural programme. He seemed relaxed at the lawns of Dona Paula despite Jayalalitha's threats.

However, the BJP is trying its best not to give Jayalalitha a chance to pull out of the coalition. Following the AIADMK's dissatisfaction with Vajpayee's explanation on Union Power Minister P R Kumarmangalam's statement, a special media briefing by the latter was arranged today at 1500 hours.

This clearly indicates that the BJP has softened its stand vis-à-vis Jayalalitha as Kumarmangalam's statement, according to a senior BJP leader, had followed the coordination committee's decision not to tolerate her tantrums any more.

''It was decided that the allies would articulate their anger indirectly,'' he toldRediff On The NeT. However, the power minister exceeded his brief by naming her directly, he added.

The source further disclosed that some allies like Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee were furious that Jayalalitha was behaving like an Opposition leader.

It is perhaps due to this reason that the BJP seems to be now concentrating more on the post-Jayalalitha phase rather than damage control methods, as in the past.

The BJP national executive's political resolution, to be passed today, is expected to give ample clues in this regard.

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