Fernandes to revive socialist bloc

Even as the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to follow a policy of political ambivalence over choosing an ally in Uttar Pradesh, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor George Fernandes has shown his political preference for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The conflicting political signals emanating from the NDA camp indicate a political distance between the BJP leadership and other NDA constituents over the strategy to be adopted in the forthcoming elections.

Fernandes appears determined to revive the old Socialist political groupings independent of the BJP's political calculations.

The bonhomie between Fernandes and Yadav appears to have found a common political ground.

Highly placed sources in the government said in his role as NDA convenor Fernandes was not happy over the manner in which the BJP's "younger leadership" had been taking the NDA for granted. Fernandes' coolness on the BJP's overtures towards AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, reflects this.

Fernandes is upset over the manner in which the DMK was allowed to break away from the government simply because a section of "young leaders" in the BJP favoured an alliance with Jayalalithaa.

"The DMK might have had differences with the BJP but it stood behind the NDA government," a senior NDA leader said.

That the BJP leadership ignored the larger interests of the NDA in driving the DMK out of the coalition has caused disquiet among many constituents.

This is proximate reason for Fernandes to reach out to his old socialist friend Mulayam Singh Yadav and develop a rapport, which has fuelled speculation in the political circles.

Given Yadav's strong support base among Muslims, it would be impossible for him to demonstrate any proximity to the BJP.

Sources, however, say Yadav will become a strong force if he wins 40 or more Lok Sabha seats in the elections. "This will certainly put the Socialist block in a position to dictate terms," said a socialist leader.

Close confidants of Fernandes and leaders of the NDA are sceptical of the BJP's claim of riding to victory on the pro-Vajpayee wave in the elections.

"By all indications, it does not seem that the BJP will be able to retain more than 150 Lok Sabha seats," said a senior minister and prominent NDA leader.

Fernandes' political manoeuvre was being seen as a move to position socialist groupings in a strong political position vis a vis the BJP, he said.

In the assessment of various NDA constituents, the BJP's inflated balloon of the "feel-good factor" would puncture sooner than later.

Significantly, the BJP leadership had a crucial meeting of party's leaders from UP to assess the party's position in the state and find out if the BJP would be able to retain its tally of 26 seats out of the 80 in the elections.

At the meeting presided by BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu, it is learnt, UP unit chief Vinay Katiyar advocated re-induction of Kalyan Singh into the party on respectable terms.

Singh, seen as an OBC leader with capacity to change the party's electoral fortune, has, is believed to have asked for a free hand to revive the BJP in the state.

But the party's central leadership is reluctant to hand over the party's affairs to a leader who not only revolted against the BJP but also cast aspersion on Vajpayee.

A senior BJP leader from UP said while it would be a wrong precedent to re-induct Singh with much fanfare, the party faces a dismal future without Kalyan Singh.