BJP's anti-Sonia campaign gains momentum

MANDATE 2004

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ideologue N Govindacharya has not only announced a campaign against Congress President Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister as she is not an Indian by birth, he also wants outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy L K Advani "expiate" for presiding over the party's electoral loss that gave rise to the situation.

"They should reflect on whether their pursuit for power made it easier for Sonia Gandhi," he said.

Govindacharya's comments have again brought into sharp focus the inner dissensions within the Sangh Parivar over the direction that the BJP has taken over the years, which is believed to have contributed to the recent electoral debacle.

The party is meeting tomorrow to decide on largescale organisational changes in view of the fact that it is now an going to sit in the Opposition benches.

Govindacharya's campaign, which he is calling the Rashtriya Swabhimaan Andolan or national self-respect movement, will also be discussed at this meeting.

It attempts to co-ordinate the moves made by disparate elements of the BJP, like former Health Minister Sushma Swaraj's threat to resign from the Rajya Sabha if Sonia Gandhi becomes Prime Minister and noises made by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharati on the issue.

RSS sources said more leaders might follow suit with offers of resignation.

Hectic behind the scenes activity has been going on, on behalf of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to mobilise opinion within the BJP over the issue.

According to sources, at least four to five people including a couple of MP s from Madhya Pradesh are expected to offet to resign their Parliamentary seats.

While top leaders of the BJP have not been commenting on these events, the underlying message, especially after Swaraj's offer of resignation is that, Sonia's Gandhi's foreign origin could be the emotional, national issue the party has been looking for.

According to top sources within the party, the reason why the party line is not being enforced in this movement, making it seem more like a spontaneous burst of nationalist pride is the fact that BJP leadership is still not sure whether the movement will strike a chord with the people.

"We realise that the nation has given an anti-NDA mandate, so if the top leaders of the party raise the issue it will appear to be like a case of sour grapes. Its better that the movement be launched through people not associated with the previous government," said the source.

NDA ally, the Janata Dal (United ) has also called for preventing Sonia Gandhi from ascending the Prime Minister's chair.PArty sources say that other allies have also been asked to chip in.

Govindacharya will be marching to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday to petition President A P J Abdul Kalam that Gandhi not be invited as Prime Minister.

"The mandate of the people was anti-NDA, not pro-Sonia, otherwise she would have got a clear majority, therefore other parties should reflect more on the issue of leadership," said Govindacharya.