BJP seeks to highlight sops

After a series of meetings, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finalised the draft of economic resolution to be adopted on the first day of the two-day Hyderabad national executive meeting, starting on January 11.

The draft resolution seeks to highlight the government's achievements and capitalise on sops announced for distinct social sections on the eve of polls.

While Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and other senior Cabinet ministers at an hour-long meeting in the morning discussed the time-frame for the business of governance before going for polls, BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu called a meeting of his five general secretaries in the afternoon to finalise the drafts of economic and political resolutions.

According to BJP sources, the national executive will highlight the government decision to extend the social security network to over 370 million workers of the unorganised sector.

Terming the extension of social security cover historic and unprecedented, a senior BJP leader said this would be the focal point of the government's achievements in the social sector.

Similarly, the economic resolution will focus on issues, which can be highlighted to give a boost to the feel-good factor in the country.

For instance, the government's claim of burgeoning foreign exchange reserves and an unprecedented growth rate would be portrayed as the resurrection of a confident and self-reliant India under Vajpayee's leadership.

The announcement of sops for various sections was an intelligent move to generate feel-good sentiments across the board, said sources in the government.

The economic resolution will seek concessions for farmers, including one per cent reduction in interest rate on farm loans. The government has indicated its readiness to accede to these demands.

Obviously, the resolution drafted by BJP's face of economic liberalisation Arun Jaitley, would resemble a political document, said a BJP leader.

"You should not expect the BJP to discuss serious economics at its national executive on the eve of elections," a top government functionary said.

The economic resolution assumes significance as the party is keen on making the government's performance a poll plank.

While the economic resolution gets prominence, the political resolution is likely to concentrate on the party's willingness to go for an early polls.

Though it will also touch issues relating to the coalition partners, the emphasis will be on the ability of the BJP, particularly Vajpayee to lead the 23-party coalition.

The BJP will also make a fervent appeal to minorities, particularly Muslims, to judge the party by its performance and not by what the Opposition says about it.

However, the dilemma continues whether a separate resolution be passed on the Prime Minister's Islamabad visit and his efforts to improve the relationship with Pakistan. It stems from the apprehension that any act of terrorism on the eve of polls will have a negative political impact.

But there is one certainty that Vajpayee will be felicitated at the executive for his efforts at peace making. The draft will, however, be finalised at the meeting Naidu will have with his general secretaries in Hyderabad on January 10.