Centre of Number Two’s whirlwind

- D. Vishnumohan Rao

The shadow of ‘Number Two’ over the ‘Centre’ and the ‘Central Affairs’ is spreading like an overcast sky. The ‘influence’ of Number Two is gathering strength from inch to inch and growing minute after minute. Number Two whirlwind gained more power after the ‘Number One’ Atal Behari Vajpayee is operated upon replacing his aged knee caps. The stretch of the shadow gained more ground post national convention of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last leg of July 2001.

Political analysts and critics observing the rapidly changing circumstances at the Centre express a common view that this Number Two ‘factor’ would continue till he becomes Number One, given there are no extreme and untoward situations to face. The live reaction of Number Two in the state of affairs when there is augmentation in extremist activity or a problem arises to the law and order situation in the domestic front appeases even the Opposition.

The members of the home party, what to say they take him to be on par with the Number One. One should never relinquish the bare fact the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) the heart piece of the BJP body is vital part of the home party. This Number Two is a matured personality with strategies filled brain. He knew when and how to make a ‘move’ for the home party’s benefit.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee gives prominence to Number Two ideologies while formulating political strategies and government policies. In case Number One forgoes to do so, Number Two himself plays the role of ‘eminency’. (It can be recalled that the no-agenda Agra summit between the Pakistani Premier Parvez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee failed to draw a conclusion and understanding from the discussions. Number Two was attributed to be one of the prime reasons for the botched talks.)

Now In-‘charge’, when full ‘charge’

Recently, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was operated upon for replacement of grind kneecap and compelled to take rest at a Hospital. Vajpayee assigned Number Two the ‘charge’ of Prime Minister’s Office temporarily, until the time he is taking rest, officially. This was only to keep the emergency affairs of the Central government function smoothly. Number Two enticed every one with total efficiency in administering the In-‘charge’ responsibilities.

Commentaries started airborne from New Delhi, the national capital that “Today’s In-‘charge’ will be tomorrow’s full ‘charge”. Long before the commentary and statements reached the grassroots level activists of the hung parties at the village, brakes were applied on them with Prime Minister Vajpayee recovering and discharging from the Hospital.

The annotations in fact reached all the ears they should have. The calm and never hasty Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee maintained silence in this issue too.

The Big Fours stand by Number Two

A situation prevailed in the Central cabinet that some of the stakeholders in the government were internally dissatisfied. This was due to some administrative snags they faced when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was sick. They could not express their displeasure open just because of one reason; the government is a conglomeration of various parties.

Arch critics observed that a team of Big Four in the Central cabinet extended total support to the Number Two when he was in-charge of the affairs of Prime Minister’s Office. All the four are holding very important portfolios in the ministry, considered after that of Number Two.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan was partly criticised by the BJP leaders that he unnecessarily and hastily brought out the issue of Atal Behari Vajpayee’s resignation matter in front of the media. It should also be noted here that the other three in the Big Four are in intimate circle of Number Two.

From BJP national executive to BJ Parliamentary Party meet

A meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive was convened in July 2001. This was with a sole agenda to reviewing rather criticising the functioning of the Central government run by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The convention referred to the fiscal policy framed originally by the party and distinctively pointed out the variations with it to the policies adopted by the Central government. A warning like expression was interlaced in the discussion towards the government at the meeting.

At the same time inspite of knowing the content of the discussions at the national executive Prime Minister Vajpayee maintained absolute silence. One of the discussions pondered over the ill health of the Prime Minister. Later Vajpayee picked up the right opportunity and fired his canon at the BJP Parliamentary congregation. Without much explanation, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee presented the ticker to explode, his statement about resigning from the position.

The vital point to verify here will be that in both the high-levelled meetings there was absolutely no adversary about Number Two, his efficiency or his performance.

Babri belt blocks Number Two’s way to Number One

Four Central cabinet members are accused to be involved in the sensational Babri Masjid demolition case in Ayodhya. Besides Number Two the three other ministers in the case included Sanyasin Uma Bharathi and Educationist Murli Manohar Joshi. The case is still in the court.

Number Two was summoned to the CBI Special Court on the Babri demolition. He appeared before the Special Court several times and made his stand clear about the construction of Ram Mandir and the Babri Masjid dispute. The leaders of the ‘Babri Bachao Joint Action Committee’ took objection to the explanations given by the Central Ministers in front of the CBI Special Court.

It is to be conceded that after Vajpayee it is only Number Two who has public image on par. BJP top brass also believes that in terms of mass attraction there is none in the party close to Number Two. Had Number Two not been wearing the Babri belt his way to become Number One would not have been blocked so long. This is not only a belief in the minds of BJP top list, but also in the views of other member parties of NDA besides the Opposition in the Parliament.

With the entire well knit contacts of Number two with the state unit heads of every party in the country, in case there happens to be a situation where in a change of face at the Number One position is needed it would be only Number Two. All through the leaders of the member parties of NDA Number Two is the only replacement to the present Number One.

Number Two will never have to strive hard for the support of the NDA member parties, already he is adequately supported by the BJP heart piece RSS. For those who know something about the national politics they can easily understand who this Number Two is.

Innocents may grasp him to be Lal Kishen Advani.

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