DATE=5/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248852
TITLE=INDIA/B-J-P (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S HINDU-NATIONALIST PARTY HAS CONCLUDED A TWO-DAY
POLITICAL STRATEGY MEETING IN NEW DELHI. THE MEETING COMES
TWO-WEEKS AFTER THE HINDU-NATIONALIST-LED-COALITION WAS TOPPLED
FROM POWER, AND MID-TERM ELECTIONS WERE CALLED. ANJANA PASRICHA
REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI.
TEXT: THE "BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY" SAYS IT WILL CONTEST
FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ALLIANCE WITH THE 17 POLITICAL
GROUPS THAT WERE PART OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT.
INDIA'S PRESIDENT CALLED ELECTIONS LAST WEEK AFTER OPPOSITION
GROUPS DEFEATED THE FRAGILE B-J-P-LED COALITION BY JUST ONE VOTE.
POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE BEGUN PLANNING FOR THE ELECTIONS, THOUGH A
DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET. THEY MUST BE HELD WITHIN SIX-MONTHS.
AT THE WEEKEND MEETING, B-J-P PRESIDENT KHUSHABHAU THAKRE, SAID
HIS PARTY WILL STRIVE TO WIN A DECISIVE MANDATE. BUT THE B-J-P
IS UNCERTAIN OF WINNING A MAJORITY -- AND IS EMPHASIZING THE
IMPORTANCE OF ALLIANCES WITH SMALL REGIONAL PARTIES, RANGING FROM
SOCIALIST GROUPS TO RADICAL RIGHTWINGERS.
THE PARTY HAS CALLED FOR GREATER UNITY WITH ITS ALLIES. IT HAS
PROPOSED A COMMON ELECTION MANIFESTO TO KEEP THE COALITION
PARTNERS TOGETHER IN THE ELECTION. THE B-J-P SAYS IT WILL ALSO
LOOK FOR NEW ALLIANCE PARTNERS.
SINCE 1989 NO SINGLE PARTY HAS WON ENOUGH VOTES TO COME TO POWER
ALONE, AND REGIONAL GROUPS HAVE PROVED CRITICAL IN THE FORMATION
OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS. POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE NEXT
ELECTION IS ALSO LIKELY TO PRODUCE A FRACTURED VERDICT.
B-J-P LEADERS SAY THEY ALSO HOPE TO BENEFIT FROM SYMPATHY
GENERATED BY THE PARTY'S SINGLE VOTE DEFEAT, AND THE FAILURE OF
OPPOSITION GROUPS TO FORM AN ALTERNATIVE ADMINISTRATION.
THE PARTY IS SHARPENING ITS ATTACK ON THE RIVAL "CONGRESS PARTY"
AND COMMUNIST GROUPS FOR BRINGING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. IT BLAMES
THESE PARTIES FOR PUSHING THE COUNTRY DOWN THE COSTLY ELECTION
ROAD.
MEANWHILE, A POLL PUBLISHED BY "THE TIMES OF INDIA" SUNDAY SAID
PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE REMAINS THE VOTERS TOP CHOICE
TO LEAD THE COUNTRY. FORTY-SIX PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED SAID
THEY WOULD VOTE FOR THE B-J-P, WHILE 24-PERCENT OPTED FOR THE
CONGRESS PARTY. BUT THE POLL WAS CONFINED TO METROPOLITAN CITIES
-- WHILE A VAST MAJORITY OF INDIA'S 600-MILLION VOTERS LIVE IN
VILLAGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/RAE
02-May-99 8:58 AM EDT (1258 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
