The BJP yesterday asserted that the party would press for a division on the motion on Uttar Pradesh under Rule 184, even if the motion is sure to be defeated. It will only withdraw if Bhandari is shifted.
It has already decided to issue a whip asking its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha whenever the motion under Rule 184 is taken up for discussion in the house and vote according to the last minute instructions of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
In case a compromise is reached with the central government on UP Governor Romesh Bhandaris recall, however, the party could withdraw the motion or not press for voting after the debate. Voting under Rule 184 follows only when the mover of the motion presses for it. The motion is in BJP deputy leader Jaswant Singhs name.
Senior BJP leaders at the partys parliamentary party meeting yesterday concluded that the United Front governments internal contradictions might finally force the government to seek a truce with the BJP. Violence in UP was the main issue of discussion at the meeting.
Vajpayee, who joined the meeting late, explained that former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar contacted him and stressed the need for a compromise by not pressing for a division, a BJP office-bearer said.
Vajpayee explained to his party colleagues that he told Chandrashekhar that the only solution to the present impasse was the recall of Bhandari from UP.
Chandrasekhar contacted Vajpayee at the behest of Prime Minister Deve Gowda, who has asked his former party leader (Gowda was a member of Chandrashekhars party after the Janata Dal split in 1990) to try and help defuse the tricky political situation. The two former prime ministers spent some time talking in the house, when Chandrashekhar moved to the seat next to Vajpayees.
The motion on UP would become infructuous if Bhandari is recalled, Vajpayee explained at the meeting, laying at rest the confusion among members on whether the BJP should go ahead with the motion even if Bhandari is recalled.
In case no compromise was reached by next Thursday, when the motion is likely to be taken up for discussion, the BJP would do everything to expose the United Front and the Congress by pressing for a division, a BJP leader said. The target of the BJPs ire would be the Congress, whose Uttar Pradesh units leaders have aired a viewpoint different than the stand of the partys central leaders. A BJP leader from UP dismissed the speculation that the BJP would not seek voting even if it failed to reach an honourable compromise with the government. If the BJP fails to seek division it will get exposed as this will mean going against the wishes of people of UP, he said.
Stepping up pressure on home minister Indrajit Gupta to precipitate the crisis in the government, BJP vice-president KL Sharma described Gupta as the one who would be remembered as the worst home minister. He also said Gowda should appoint Bhandari as his advisor in view of the strong defence he has put forward for Bhandari.
Sharma said Guptas statement in the Rajya Sabha on Monday had cent per cent vindicated the BJPs stand on UP.
By clarifying the meaning of anarchy, chaos and destruction, Gupta had confirmed the BJPs criticism of the United Front government.
On February 28 Gupta had described UP as heading towards chaos, anarchy and destruction. He clarified in the Rajya Sabha later that anarchy meant political anarchy, chaos meant social chaos and destruction meant destruction of the economy.
Sharma said that Guptas clarifications further criticised the United Front government. The UF is responsible for bringing the UP situation to this stage, he alleged. It is the UFs casteist approach that has created social chaos in UP, he alleged.
