The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is upset at the refusal of its allies, the Shiv Sena and the Samata Party, to walk out along with its members yesterday. What added insult to the injury was Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackerays statement that his party may not vote for the BJPs motion on Uttar Pradesh.
Yesterdays lack of coordination, over a vote to extend Presidents rule in UP, could be because of a communication gap. BJP vice-president K L Sharma said that the message that a walk-out was planned may not have been properly conveyed.
The Shiv Sena and the Samata Party did not join the BJP members when they walked out instead of voting against the government motion.
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Sharma said that the BJP wanted to vote only on its motion on UP, which is scheduled for discussion next Thursday and Friday.
Apparently, the BJP leaders were worried that a defeat in the Lok Sabha yesterday would undermine the partys moral authority during the debate on UP.
The leaders of the BJPs allies, however, complained in private that the party had started to take their support for granted
Yesterdays shock would give a clear message that the BJP cannot take our support for granted, a Shiv Sena leader said.
BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajans absence from Delhi for 10 days created a crisis of confidence between the BJP and the Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha, he pointed out.
Mahajans detractors in the BJP would be more than happy if there were tension between the two parties, he said.
These detractors may have ignored the Shiv Sena deliberately, he apprehended.
Thackerays unprovoked statement on supporting the BJPs motion on UP is less easily explained. One BJP leaders said that it indicated the BJPs differences with the Shiv Sena.
Thackerays statement was not a mere sabre-rattling but a befitting reply to the party which insulted the Sena in UP, a senior Shiv Sena leader said.
The BJP had turned down the Shiv Senas claim over at least a dozen assembly seats in UP, saying that the party was not ready for an alliance with the Sena outside Maharashtra, he pointed out.
Now it is the turn of the Shiv Sena to demonstrate that it matters even on an issue concerning UP, he said, although he ruled out the possibility of his party going to the extent of not supporting the BJP motion.
Sharma acknowledged that as we are two parties, there can be differences of opinion on certain issues. Thackeray is well within his rights to decide what is right for his party.
However, the BJP is certain that all its allies would vote for its motion on UP on Friday, Sharma claimed.