What kind of a general is he who concedes defeat even before the battle, asks Rajiv Shukla
Without ruling out a government headed by a prime minister belonging to neither the Congress nor the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani has said the Congress’ tally could be the lowest since 1952.
In his latest blog, ‘Speculations on Congress’s fate in 2014,’ he has argued that there are no chances of a third front. At the same time, he has conceded that neither the BJP nor the Congress may be in a position to form a government. “A non-Congress, non-BJP Prime Minister heading a government supported by one of these two principal parties is, however, feasible. This has happened in the past also...”
Mr. Advani’s comments are not likely to go down well within his party either. For several months now, party leaders have been speculating on who could be projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. Since the arrival of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP’s centre stage after the Mumbai national executive meeting and talk of the possibility of his joining the prime ministerial race, there has been a sense of unease among some constituents of the National Democratic Alliance.
Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has been vocal. He has gone public with his views that the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate should have “secular credentials.” He has also taken up the issue with BJP president Nitin Gadkari.
In his blog, Mr. Advani has said his views on the prospects of the Congress are based on an interaction with “two senior Cabinet Ministers.” The Ministers, he has said, are concerned at the stability of a government if it is not headed by either the Congress or the BJP.
“Unfortunately, the two governments since 2004, UPA I and UPA II, have both been so badly mismanaged that the current state of anxiety in the ruling establishment is quite understandable…It would not at all be surprising if the next Lok Sabha elections yield a result, which for the Congress may prove the worst in its history since 1952.”
He has said the Congress’s “miserable performance” in Rae Bareli and Amethi in the Assembly elections and its dismal record in the subsequent local bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh reflected its collapsing fortunes.
“So far as the BJP is concerned, the bungling in Karnataka notwithstanding, all recent public opinion surveys clearly reveal that the principal beneficiary of the Congress’s fast-eroding reputation continues to be the BJP!”
In an aside, Mr. Advani has said if the Congress has successfully avoided a Lok Sabha poll till now, it is only because of its “alliance partner — the CBI.”
Reacting to Mr. Advani’s comments, the Congress said he conceded defeat of his party even before the election. “I can say… that Mr. Advani himself has conceded defeat by saying there is a possibility that there can’t be a BJP Prime Minister in 2014. After this blog, how will a BJP candidate win?” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla asked.
Terming the BJP leader a “reluctant general” going to war, Mr. Shukla said: “If anybody is reluctant, how can anyone win the war. What kind of a general is he who concedes defeat even before the battle?”
Another Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said Mr. Advani’s remarks reflected an internal rift in the BJP and recalled the predictions made by him before the 2004 and 2009 elections. Mr. Chaturvedi said: “Whatever [Mr.] Advani is saying is on the basis of internal rift and feud that is going on in his party. In 2004 too, he predicted, and that time, his people were out on a feel good factor and the India Shining campaign. What had happened to that prophecy?”
Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh echoed these sentiments. “Even before the elections, the BJP has conceded defeat.”
Keywords: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, non-Congress parites, non-BJP parties, Prime Ministerial candidate, Third Front government, 2014 Lok Sabha polls
Advaniji's blog clearly analyses the political atmosphere at
this present juncture and his views are not at all political
predictions. But, unfortunately, he is misunderstood by a few
Congress friends who are always waiting for an opportunity to
find fault with Advaniji and ready to jump at the conclusions
which are not favorable to BJP. His vivid arguments that there
are no chances of a third front are not taken care of by these
Congressmen and SP leaders. At the same time his conclusion that
Congress tally could be lowest since 1952 is also naturally not
acceptable to Congress since they have to swallow this as a
bitter pill. Advaniji cites the example of the utter miserable
performances of the Congress party in the Constituencies of Sonia
and Rahul in UP during Assembly and Local body elections. On the
other hand he has predicted that BJP will become the largest
single party because of the party's performances and hard work in
Gujarat, Bihar, MP and other states.
Indeed a matured statement from a seasoned statesman.Looking at what is brewing up in both the Congress and the BJP camps,Advaniji's opinion sounds very relevant.While he is the most suited person to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP,the Congress' intention of thrusting Rahul to the coveted seat looks imminent.Sensing the in fights in the BJP and the opposition within the party to Modi who otherwise is also not at all a PM material for so many reasons,Advaniji stands vindicated when he says that none from the Congress or the BJP but an outsider-dark horse might get installed as the PM in 2014.
L.K.Advani’s observation on the 2014 parliamentary elections primarily can be interpreted as an expression of his disappointment over the likely-hood of his being discarded as his party’s prime ministerial candidate. His statement would create lack of confidence in BJP cadres while being engaged in election propaganda. Conjoining his party with the ruling Cong(I) would serve the interests of the latter only. Moreover, this would strengthen the ego of the minor parties in both NDA and UPA, forcing the main parties to go for further appeasement policies. If we allow certain acceptability to Advani’s suggestion, that also adds to our system failure. After experimenting parliamentary democracy for more than sixty years, if the so-called National political parties are gradually surrendering to State parties, who depend on regionalism and communalism, it is going to be a greater blow to our nationalism and democracy. It is time that the Cong(I) and the BJP seriously view such calamities and work, together or independently, to clean our system off corruption and criminalization. They cannot ignore the Hazare movement as well.
The most FOOLISH & A MAN OF CONTROVERY for PM is SH. L.K. ADVANI. He
raises the controversy just for nothing. This statement at this time is
of no sense. This is the misfortune of this country that we don,t have
any strong opposition just coz of Mr. Advani. And thats why the present
Government is doing so much NONSENSE.
[“What kind of a general is he who concedes defeat even before the battle?”] An honest and realistic one, perhaps? A sure sign that it's time for Mr. Advani to retire from Indian politics.
Advaniji is too old to be the next PM. Moreover he is unable to overcome the influence of RSS,VHP,Bajrang dal etc. On the other hand Mr Modi is strong administrator and has risen above the safforn color. Mr Modi should be the next PM candidate from the NDA or else he should resign from BJP and form a separate party.He has nothing to lose.
Most of our political leaders have only one point program:how to win
the election and create a situation that maximize private wealth and
personal power.India is facing a dangerous attack from terrorists based
on many OIC countries.Many of our own citizens are also spreading
sponsored news and confusion among us. The challenges from China
including military intervention can not be ruled out.What we need is a
strong leadership that will keep India united through rapid progress in
economy and ability to counter attack all anti-national forces and
roots of corruption. To distract us some leaders constantly harp on
'secularism' only to win election and disown their responsibilty to
build our nation.
by makeing all statements against own party he is loosing respect among his well wishers. all above 70 years leaders like adavani, manmohan sigh, bal thakere, karunanidhi. must retired. by not retireing they are lossing respect.
acreoss the coutrey people dont have confidance in sonia -manmohan led goverment. and people feel modi as capable leaders, no muslim left gujrat like up,bihar and maharashtra.thats why he is frustred.like people frustred from corrupt manmohan.
A clever thought. And significant too for Advani has made aware of the fact that non-Congress or non-BJP governments at the centre never lasted long. The thought has an unobtrusive message to Modi's gung-ho acolytes who are going overboard to anoint him as the commander in charge of BJP's electoral battle for power at the centre in 2014. Advani is one of the few mature Indian politicians alive today. One hopes the rank and file of the BJP would heed him.
2014 is still far off. The Congress government still has enough time
in it's hands to make amends for the blunders it committed and win the
elections. But the big question is whether it will see the writings on
the wall and act? A very serious drought situation is in the offing
and possibly it may be there for some years as in the past. The UPA
government should attach importance to priorities and use the
government funds to take up Drought relief measures well in time and
implement them speedily to ensure that the people are not put to
hardship on account of the drought that is looming large. Such a step
would be in the right direction that would stand them in good stead at
the time of election. Speaking of priorities, the government should
consider whether it is necessary to spend huge public money on the
project 'Mission to Mars' at a time when that money can be used for
public welfare? Are we going to 'loose' the Mars if we defer that
project for some time?
BJP should stop day dreaming in its own interest. Both Congress and BJP will see steep erosion in their seats. Of course BJP will not be able to find new low. Let both BJP and Congress learn some lesson from recent UP polls. Anna's decision to go in for a new political outfit will not only divide the anti UPA vote, it also means that Team Anna finds essentially no difference between Congress & BJP on the issue of corruption.
For BJP,they have already lost 50% in the next Lok Sabha election but
Advani is right in his observation-there is going to be a "Kichdi" govt
of regional parties that won't last longer!
In fact the best Prime Ministerial candidate of the present opposition is Mr.Advani. He is the senior most in BJP, he has the necessary experience in the Central Govt., he worked close to Mr.Vajpayee, he is matured and has a measured talk. He knows the problems of the Muslims since he was in the present Pakistan when he was young. Why should BJP suggest Modi at the moment. Modi can be PM candidate in 2018. For the forthcoming elections in 2014 Sri.Advaniji should be made the Prime Ministerial candidate. Modi has to be patient and he should not be restless now. He has done a good job in Gujrat that does not mean he will be accepted as PM by all. It will take time. If Advanijee is projected as PM candidate IT WILL BE ACCEPTED BY ONE AND ALL ACROSS THE PARTY LINE.
When someone says that creation of a certain thing is feasible, it only means that it is
possible to do it. It doesn't mean that it will happen. What Mr. Advani is saying is only that
even though a coalition government including minor parties and led by either the Congress
or the BJP can be stable, a coalition government led by a leader of a minor party and
supported by either of the major parties will be unstable as recent history has shown.
For the BJP it is a sad day since their leaders could not even get a
suitable candidate from their own party or even from RSS for the
Presidential election. They even can not say openly if they want
Modiji as their leader or not! Advaniji needs to come clean on the
Anna and His Team sudden turn to cut and run the hunger campaign and
go for becoming a political party decision. It is foolish to predict
the 2014 election outcome since many things will change in between. I
have some serioud concerns about the BJP and Modiji as Modiji is a
ruthless politician who has set his eye on becoming the next PM and
will not hesitate to go for an internal political blood bath in the
BJP national camp. He already got the scalp of Sri Joshi and it is no
good hiding the head in the sand believing that a third party leader
will suddenly emerge. What is more possible that now RSS can park the
BJP as a spent force as it did the Janata Party and start romance with
Babaji and Modiji to have new wave.
Why this formula has not worked in the case of the President and Vice-Presidential nominees? People still ignornant.whereas the leaders of political parties matured to exploit the ignorance and innocence of the people. There are as many many black sheeps are in the BJP too.If congress is accused of corruption that equally applies all poltical parties in the country.Power corrupts them and absolute powers corrupt them absolutely as is said.Electoral democracy has not served the people,rather it helped the coterie to thrive in the country.Jan lokpal not materialised due to non cooperation of all political parties,as all are corruput and varies only in degrees.
Of course India needs strong, principled Leaders. But what would make
a real difference to the country is sound, fair and just Policies (not
artificial public welfare schemes that allow for looting public funds
even at the penalty of distorting the market, holding back economic
growth), adherence to rule of law, upholding democracy, eradicating
corruption etc.
If these fundamental things are not changed, having a new head with
the same old (decayed, corrupted) body politic will not change
anything. Sorry.
i agree with the statement made by Advani. According to the current situation, next PM may belongs to any regional party. but there is strong doubt about it's long lasting. As it has happened in past also, country had to go through the burden of Midterm election.
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