George to stay NDA convener despite defeat

Former Janata Dal (U) President George Fernandes is likely to remain NDA convener despite having suffered a humiliating defeat in election for the party presidentship.

BJP sources said a secretariat would be set up at Fernandes' residence to enable him to operate from there.

While the BJP remained silent on his defeat, party leaders said Fernandes could have avoided the predicament had he withdrawn gracefully when he realised he could not win.

Fernandes is considered close to LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as the RSS. At the height of the Jinnah crisis, it was he who had rushed to Nagpur to persuade the RSS not to force Advani's resignation.

On the approach of the new incumbent, Sharad Yadav, a senior BJP leader said, "The two parties, the BJP and the JD(U), are running a coalition government in Bihar, which is why we feel that even someone like Sharad Yadav, who has defied NDA's stand on various issues in Parliament and outside will have to be more pragmatic."

Apart from a certain section in the party, no tears are being shed for Fernandes. "It was obvious to everyone that he would lose badly. He should have withdrawn from the race," said a senior party office-bearer.

As for the fear that Sharad Yadav would try a cobble a JD(U)-JD(S) alliance in a bid to revive the old Janata Party, BJP leaders are not too worried. "The JD(S), too, is running a coalition government with us in Karnataka. Therefore, it is not something that bothers us. These are still early days," the office-bearer added.

The end of the Fernandes era is not being mourned by even his old friends in the BJP. "It was clear during the Bihar elections as to what would happen in the JD(U) party elections. There have been no surprises," said a BJP leader.