NDA: A year in boycott mode By: Deepak Lokhande http://www.mid-day.com/news/nation/2005/may/109476.htm
The National Democratic Alliance’s performance in the Parliament as Opposition is easy to describe in just one word – boycott. It began with BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharati threatening to shave their heads if Sonia Gandhi became the Prime Minister. After Sonia ‘sacrificed’ the post for Dr Manmohan Singh, the NDA found a new issue in the tainted ministers. Eventually, Shibu Soren resigned as the union minister and decided to try his luck in the Jharkhand assembly elections. The sacking of BJP-appointed governors led to a boycott in the Parliament. When the BJP government in Goa was dismissed in a controversial manner and Soren installed as Jharkhand CM in a dubious manner, the NDA again chose to boycott. For the few days the NDA was present in the Parliament, A B Vajpayee led the show although the leader of Opposition is L K Advani. There is now a serious question mark over the very existence of the NDA after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray insisting that it is over after the defeat. The Telugu Desam Party too has decided not to participate in the boycott any more. All parties in the Opposition, including the BJP, are not as cohesive as they used to be when held by the power glue. On the political front, however, the NDA has achieved despite being in complete disarray. For instance, it managed to end the Lalu raj in Bihar. Jharkhand, with all its manipulations and machinations, remains with the BJP. Prospects in Goa, if elections are held, look good as the Congress is on uncertain ground. It lost a major opportunity, however, when it could not shake the Congress-NCP in Maharashtra despite a strong anti-incumbency wave. The chief reason for the failure of the NDA as Opposition could be the internal squabble within the BJP, as pointed by Sonia Gandhi. The party is yet to decide on leadership issues and is involved in a major power struggle with the RSS. It will find its direction only when the pulls and pressures are over within. Till that happens, NDA’s radar will keep missing targets. Forwarded By Eddie Verdes
