The Hindu : New Delhi News : Khurana's appointment to add more confusion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 12, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Khurana's appointment to add more confusion

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, DEC 11. The nomination of former Delhi Chief Minister, Madan Lal Khurana, as zonal in-charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party affairs in three States including Delhi is all set to intensify the infighting within the party here. This at a time when serious differences have cropped up between local party leaders and the Sangh Parviar over the final list of new office-bearers whose announcement has now been delayed for almost two months.

Not one to sit idle and stay away from the limelight, Mr. Khurana has already indicated that he will launch a decisive battle against the Sheila Dikshit Government from the New Year onward raising various issues of public importance. However, Mr. Khurana's efforts could be seriously hampered by the lack of definition of his role in the Delhi politics in the new set-up. As if the sharp infighting within the party was not enough, the announcement by the party president, L.K. Advani, appointing Mr. Khurana as the zonal in-charge has further widened the gulf within the party and is likely to complicate matters.

Delhi BJP leaders are of the view that only the "prabhari'' has the authority to run the show and guide the party on its policies and programmes. For that, the party leadership has already nominated senior party leader, Shivraj Singh Chauhan as in-charge of Delhi. The imposition of Mr. Khurana has created confusion in the minds of leaders and cadres as to what will be his role and that of Mr. Chauhan. As it is known that Mr. Khurana is hardly a personality who would take directions from anyone within the party over his role and assignment, there is bound to be a clash of interests between the party, Mr. Chauhan and Mr. Khurana. The Delhi BJP president, Harsh Vardhan, is very clear that Mr. Chauhan is the one who has to play the guiding role and as far as resorting to agitations and raking up important issues is concerned, a job being regularly done by the State unit. The last 15 days have seen the Delhi BJP take to the streets against the price rise, hike in water tariffs, shortage of power and other related issues. "The central BJP leadership has done no great service to the cause of the party. The move is hardly expected to rejuvenate the local unit and cadres. It would only add to the confusion prevailing within the rank and file and would do no good towards turning around the downward slide it faces,'' a former Minister remarked.

On the other hand, the final list of office bearers is likely to be further delayed with this new development. Already there is a tussle going on between the RSS and local leaders over the people who would form the core team in Delhi for the next four years. On his part, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who has the full backing of the Sangh Parviar, is very clear that the new team should have a different look and chance should be given to new faces and young blood with a blend of experience in order to present a new image to the electorate. The dominating local leaders are, meanwhile, building pressure to get their own supporters accommodated in the new team in order to continue having direct or indirect control over party affairs in Delhi. Now that Mr. Khurana has also emerged on the scene, he is also likely to put pressure on the leadership to accommodate his supporters in the team, something that is likely to result in more bad blood.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi