‘Modi PM projection will split NDA’
The Congress on Saturday predicted that the NDA would split if Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is projected as a prime ministerial candidate.
“The NDA will split if Modi is projected as a prime ministerial candidate,” said Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi. “Modi is feeling the need to fast, which
means he has realised his involvement in crimes in Gujarat, but a fast cannot change anyone’s character. A fast does not lessen Modi’s crimes,” Mr Alvi said.
In the NDA, while the Janata Dal (U) is maintaining a distance from his fast and has not appreciated the move, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena are enthused.
On the other hand, the AIADMK has openly supported it although it is not part of the NDA. But its backing will make its ally, the Left, uncomfortable. An AIADMK-led front currently rules in Tamil Nadu.
Sources said Mr Modi’s projection would make its prospective allies cautious. The TDP and BJD will find it difficult to forge a strategic alliance with the BJP in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. But the BSP can re-ally with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh if the people throw up a fractured mandate in the coming state Assembly polls. This is because the BSP had allied with the BJP at least thrice in UP earlier.
The BJP sees the Trinamul Congress, TDP, BJD, BSP, and National Conference as natural allies. And it may not hesitate to re-ally with the INLD in Haryana if its current alliance with the Haryana Janhit Congress (BL), led by the late Bhajan Lal’s son, Kuldeep Bishnoi, does not work.
The BJP-led NDA has not been expanding with or without Mr Modi for different reasons after 2004. They said Mr Modi has been known for his authoritarian style in his own party and the Sangh Parivar and, therefore, he cannot lead a coalition at the national level. After winning two Assembly polls in Gujarat on a divisive plank, Mr Modi is trying to play a role at the national level. But his attempt to become “secular” could be counter-productive because his mentor, Mr L.K. Advani, did try when he had praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Pakistan, only to end up antagonising the RSS. The latter had virtually removed him from the BJP presidentship.
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