"New BJP" is just for now
The BJP leadership yesterday sent a clear signal to its cadres that the party and its core issues would remain unchanged; that party president LK Advani's call for a softer, "New BJP" was only a temporary measure due to the compulsions of coalition governance. The political resolution adopted by the BJP National Executive yesterday stated that the mandate of the general elections vindicated its stand on national issues.
Shekhawat blames hardliners
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat owned moral responsibility for the BJP's poor show in the State during the recent Lok Sabha elections and offered to step down yesterday. Before that he, however, blamed the party's hardliners for its poor showing.
Sonia to revive Cong parliamentary board
AICC president Sonia Gandhi will revive the Congress Parliamentary Board as part of the reorganisation programme. However, this will be done only after the reconstitution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). The high-level Parliamentary Board was wound up by P V Narasimha Rao when he was party president.
We will not join Vajpayee government, says Mamata
Trinamool Congress will not join the Vajpayee government even after the likely expansion of the Union cabinet next month, said party leader Mamata Banerjee. Mamata stated that her party had already made its stand clear but added that it would extend all support to the BJP government from outside.
Bardhan accuses AG of promoting BJP agenda
Charging that the BJP government's national agenda was merely a diversionist garb for following an arbitrary path in governance, the Communist Party of India Secretary General A B Bardhan stated that the newly appointed Advocate General was functioning like an agent for paving the way for implementation of its hidden agenda. He said that the Advocate General, instead of sticking to his job of advising the government, had not only spoken about the need to review the constitution but had also expressed his views on sensitive matters like use of the Article 356.
SP lukewarm to Janata unity efforts
The Samajwadi Party (SP) said yesterday that it was committed to strengthening the United Front, but appeared lukewarm to the idea of reunification of the original "Janata parivar." SP president Mulayam Singh also added that he was not aware of any move to bring the breakaway groups back to the fold.
