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National Council of BJP begins
The National Council of the Bharatiya Janata Party began in New Delhi on Sunday to commemorate the golden jubilee of the formation of `Jan Sangh`. Growing communication gap between BJP and Govt: PM
The National Council of the Bharatiya Janata Party began in New Delhi on Sunday to commemorate the golden jubilee of the formation of ‘Jan Sangh’.
The party, which saw a modest launch at the Raghuvir Kanya Vidyalaya by late Shyama Prasad Mukherjee 50 years ago, mostly remained an effective opposition party when the Parliament was dominated by the titans like Jawaharlal Nehru, Minoo Masani, Ram Manohar Lohia and Madhu Limaye.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, home minister L K Advani, party president K Jana Krishnamurthi and scores of senior leaders from throughout the country are taking part in the one-day event held to commemorate the 50 years of political existence. The interesting aspect of the BJP`s golden jubilee is that there are at least two surviving personalities who attended the launch of the ‘Jan Sangh’ 50 years ago -- Balraj Madhok and Nanaji Deshmukh. Balraj Madhok, a former ‘Jan Sangh’ president, has not been invited because he is not a member of the National Council, a body of 1,200 members. On the other hand, Nanaji Deshmukh, a nominated MP in Rajya Sabha, will get a special place in Sunday’s event because he is politically still aligned with BJP. The BJP, the newer avatar of ‘Jan Sangh’, has emerged as the country`s single largest party since 1996 but never has made it to power corridors on its own but has been leader of the National Democratic Alliance coalition.
The party was part of the Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD) governments in late 60s when anti-Congress wave was sweeping in northern states but the coalition consisting of disparate political parties could never withstand the Congress` manipulative politics and became victims of its machinations in less than a year.
After having extended support to the government during the Bangladesh liberation, the party put up a strong resistance when Congress government led by Indira Gandhi imposed emergency and suspended the fundamental rights of citizens. Its tough posture earned the ire of ruling party and put many of its leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and home minister L K Advani, behind the bars for opposing emergency and a band of party workers.
Bureau Report
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, home minister L K Advani, party president K Jana Krishnamurthi and scores of senior leaders from throughout the country are taking part in the one-day event held to commemorate the 50 years of political existence. The interesting aspect of the BJP`s golden jubilee is that there are at least two surviving personalities who attended the launch of the ‘Jan Sangh’ 50 years ago -- Balraj Madhok and Nanaji Deshmukh. Balraj Madhok, a former ‘Jan Sangh’ president, has not been invited because he is not a member of the National Council, a body of 1,200 members. On the other hand, Nanaji Deshmukh, a nominated MP in Rajya Sabha, will get a special place in Sunday’s event because he is politically still aligned with BJP. The BJP, the newer avatar of ‘Jan Sangh’, has emerged as the country`s single largest party since 1996 but never has made it to power corridors on its own but has been leader of the National Democratic Alliance coalition.
The party was part of the Samyukt Vidhayak Dal (SVD) governments in late 60s when anti-Congress wave was sweeping in northern states but the coalition consisting of disparate political parties could never withstand the Congress` manipulative politics and became victims of its machinations in less than a year.
After having extended support to the government during the Bangladesh liberation, the party put up a strong resistance when Congress government led by Indira Gandhi imposed emergency and suspended the fundamental rights of citizens. Its tough posture earned the ire of ruling party and put many of its leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and home minister L K Advani, behind the bars for opposing emergency and a band of party workers.
Bureau Report