By Geetika Jain Vajpayee, the name rules. Vajpayee, the name holds the NDA together. Vajpayee, the name may just win BJP power at the Centre again. So, what is it about Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that makes him larger than life? That he is indispensable, if the BJP and NDA want to maintain their stronghold on Indian politics, has once again been established. The recent leadership controversy has underlined the power equation in the BJP. Clearly, the shrewd Prime Minister has played his card well and has come out trumps. On June 04, Vajpayee took everyone by surprise by declaring that his deputy L K Advani would lead the BJP in the next elections in 2004. What followed was a barrage of prompt reactions and clarifications from all quarters. The whole Union Cabinet threw its weight behind Vajpayee and declared that he is their undisputed leader.
BJP chief, Venkaiah Naidu, made it a point to clarify to the media and NDA partners that it is Atal ji, who is the party’s indisputable prime ministerial candidate. Naidu said he wanted to clear any confusion that might harm the party’s interest. That is what he said. Perhaps he meant what he said. Perhaps it was a damage control exercise for his own reputation. Known to be a man from the Advani camp, he rushed to the podium there and then judging the precarious situation.
The Advani camp had toed in prohibited territory and it faced the music. Like every time. This time, Venkaiah Naidu has been forced to eat his words. Another man, who dared to project the PM as the mask of the party, has been forced into retirement. After the Himachal defeat, the Narendra Modi wave has been contained. As far as coalition partners are concerned, they have more than once, expressed their faith in Vajpayee. Following the controversy, important allies in the ruling coalition like the TDP and the Trinamool Congress were quick off the mark to recognise only Vajpayee as the leader of NDA. Even Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, who leaves no opportunity to critically target the PM, found it necessary to categorically state how important Vajpayee is for NDA’s smooth running.
When Vajpayee enjoys this kind of a phenomenal broad-based support, what was the need to throw in the towel?
It is possible that Vajpayee instigated the controversy by his remark just to test waters. To consolidate his position in the party that he felt was being challenged by the opposition coterie. Well, the topic is open for debate. The only conclusion, seeing the flurry of reactions, is that Vajpayee’s presence at the helm of affairs is inevitable for the survival of the party. At this juncture, BJP needs him more than he needs the party.
Why is it so? The answers are not far to seek. The charismatic, poetic, witty, astute, charming leader with his winning smile has braved the ebb and tide of Indian politics to acquire this tall stature. From his entry into Parliament in 1957, he has come a long way to become the first non-Congress leader to serve the longest term as the Prime Minister of India.
A non-extremist, educated, moderate, Hindu or non-Hindu middle-class Indian can relate with him despite the extremist pro-Hindutva ideology of the BJP. He has not muddied his hands with the contentions that his party is often involved in. He has managed to steer clear of the fanaticism of the BJP. He, the veteran nine-time parliamentarian, is the soft, more humane face of his party.

In the 1980s when Bharatiya Janata Party was still in infancy, he was the one leading the party with Advani as his right hand. BJP was trying to gain a foothold amid the Congress wave after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. It was at this crucial juncture that Advani took the lead and started the Ayodhya movement. Advani managed to convert people`s religious sentiments into popular support for the party.
Advani is the “charioteer” of the movement that brought BJP into eminence from sheer negligence. He has been an active worker of RSS and Baharatiya Janata Party for more than 40 years now. It was his Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, which was responsible for giving pro-Hindu dimension to the BJP ideology. He is the staunch, immovable, hard-talking face of the BJP. Only the ungratefuls in party can deny the fact that it was Advani, the iron man, who took BJP from two seats in 1984 to 119 seats in 1991.
He came to be known as the future of the party. But it was not meant to be. What followed the Hawala scandal and Advani could not manage to extenuate the calumny. Although, Delhi High Court dismissed charges against him in 1997 and restored his honour, the damage had been done. Ironically, the Ayodhya issue that brought the party recognition proved detrimental to Advani`s own image. He was indicted both by Opposition and the moderate-thinking people of India. A case is still pending against him and Murli Manohar Joshi in Rae Bareilly court for demolition of Babri Mosque. The issue is still brewing and keeps coming back to haunt Advani time and again.
During this turmoil, Vajpayee distanced himself from the extremist policies of his party. Seemingly, he also made a remark after Babri Mosque demolition that he wants to quit the party. He did not quit but made sure that public knew of his intention to do so. It is this political exactitude which accounts for what he is today. Thus, when coalition became the need of the hour, BJP needed a clean image to lead from the front. This was the time when Vajpayee emerged as the consensual choice.
It has not been just smooth sailing since then. In 2002, at the time of Gujarat elections, Advani took position in the driver’s seat again and was calling the shots. He staunchly supported Narendra Modi through the post-Godhra shame. Riding high on Hindutva wave, BJP managed to pull a two-thirds majority. Advani’s formula worked again in resuscitating party fortunes. All this while despite his discreet unhappiness at the Gujarat experiment, Vajpayee was forced to take the back seat. His political wisdom forced him to keep mum at a time when Congress had got a fresh lease of life following a string of victories in assembly elections.
Gujarat was won and then Himachal was lost. Vajpayee came to the fore-front again.
During his successive terms in 1998 and 1999, Vajpayee has proved to be the magic magnet, who has managed to keep the 24-odd partners together. He understands the pulse of the masses and always strikes at the right moment. This uncanny political acumen of his has done him in good stead. He is emotional and likes to tread the middle path. He can break strange deadlocks and face difficult situations with his humorous repartees.
Vajpayee believes in keeping his flock together and thrives on general concurrence of all partners. He has succeeded in subduing the potential threats from within the party and coalition. In fact, today BJP enjoys an advantageous position in the NDA. No ally seems hazardous to the health of the government today, courtesy Vajpayee. Also, there is no other alternative in the BJP who can take Vajpayee`s position effectively. Not even Advani. Vajpayee knows this equation well and enjoys it too. That’s why he made his displeasure known in a few words but at the right time, to dismiss the `lauh purush-vikas purush` theory. That Indian politics is all about “struggle for power” is no hidden fact. But, unlike all other major parties, BJP is the only party on the court of politics that has always played doubles. Both Vajpayee and Advani have their strategic importance in the sustenance of the party.
This is where the strange twist comes in. Advani also enjoys a special rapport and friendship with Vajpayee. As the home minister of India, he has always firmly backed Vajpayee as the PM but at the same time, he tries to ensure that he is not dismissed just as second fiddle to his boss. The power epi-centre in BJP seemed to be shifting on his side when in May last year, he was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. This was Vajpayee`s own decision, which clearly indicates that he doesn`t shirk from promoting his protege. Speculation was ripe, at that time, that Vajpayee is finally moving towards retirement and is handing over power to his complement.
It has been a year since Advani’s position was elevated, yet today the power equation is for everyone to see. Vajpayee is neither tired nor retired. He stands taller than ever and Advani is still playing the second fiddle. It is another matter that both of them seek to dismiss the controversy as groundless.
In fact, the Vajpayee-Advani relationship has remained a matter of much discussion since the time the BJP came into prominence. Their sweet and sour, enigmatic-yet-lovely relationship dates back to the time when both of them used to stay together in Delhi at Victoria Road. Vajpayee fondly remembers that he used to savour chaat with Advani and the latter reminisces their going for movies together. The bond is, undoubtedly, strong!
As of now, Vajpayee is the man leading from the front. His charm and appeal stand beyond question. Even the Opposition was tempted to call him “the right man in the wrong party”. Thus, his “righteousness” is widely acknowledged and that of the party is for the public to decide in the coming elections. Vajpayee is certainly the “Man of the Moment”.