Diplomat-turned-politician and Janata Dal (U) spokesperson Pavan K. Varma fell foul of the party line on Monday after he posted tweets questioning the government’s record on tackling hunger and the Election Commission’s avoidance of announcing poll dates for Gujarat.
By evening the party had issued an official press release distancing itself from Mr. Varma’s tweets, asserting that the party had “full faith” in the “impartial functioning of the Election Commission”.
Mr Varma, who joined the JD (U) after he retired from the IFS and is a Rajya Sabha MP, tweeted that, “EC (Election Commission of India) must not only be impartial but seen to be so. Why have dates for Gujarat elections not been announced? We need credible answers”, pointing to concerns that the election body decision may have been done to allow the BJP-led Gujarat government announce development projects before the model code of conduct kicks in.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Varma, however, denied that his tweet had anything to do with any differences with his own party on the alliance with the BJP or even that it was an attack on the BJP.
“Whichever coalition we may be in, the Janata Dal (U) is a party by itself and has its own ideology. Some questions need to be asked which are in the national interest. I believe that we need answers on the non-announcement of poll dates for Gujarat,” Mr Varma said.
2012 precedent
He pointed out that in 2012 the announcement for both Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat were made on October 3 and the model code of conduct had come into force. Earlier this year, too, poll dates for all five States — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur —were announced on January 4.
“A former election commissioner had said elections falling within six months of each other should be clubbed together. My question pertains to that being not so this time. It’s not against any party,” Mr Varma said.
It was made clear, however, that his party did not view his tweets in that light and used strong language in distancing itself. “Mr Varma was not authorised to make such statements and expressed views are of his personal capacity and do not reflect the official party line,” the statement said.
Mr. Varma also dismissed suggestions that his tweet, criticising the government on India’s rather low position on the Global Hunger Index was also anti-BJP.
The repercussions of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tying up with the BJP are still being felt.
