Advani?s yatra proves BJP has two mascots

Advani?s yatra proves BJP has two mascots

The decision of deputy prime minister L.K. Advani to begin yet another yatra has clearly demonstrated that the BJP is not a "one-man party." While Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being projected by the NDA as its sole leader, the BJP apparently wants to ensure that Advani's status as the undisputed second-in-command doesn't go unnoticed even if it amounts to having two mascots for the party, something which may not be to the liking of the numero uno.

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BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu had to correct himself when he talked about the BJP's twin mascots last year. Vajpayee conveyed his displeasure by stating that the next polls would be contested under Advani's leadership. Both Naidu and Advani then clarified that it was Vajpayee alone who was the supreme leader and the party would have one and not two mascots.

However, the yatra, which begins from Kanyakumari, has raised several questions. Kanyakumari was the venue from where Murli Manohar Joshi as the BJP president had started his Ekta Yatra in December 1992 for Srinagar. By accident or by design, a section in the BJP has again selected Kanyakumari as the starting point. This was perhaps to score a political point over Joshi, who is considered close to Vajpayee. The end point (Srinagar) could also have been the same had talks with the Hurriyat resulted in positive results.

Secondly, the yatra is to project the achievements of the NDA government and highlight the India Shining slogan. One would have normally thought that since Vajpayee is the undisputed number one in the NDA, he would lead the campaign. The BJP campaign being spearheaded by someone else could give rise to speculation about the Prime Minister's fitness. We all know that Vajpayee is in the best of health. And when the country is on the threshold of getting into the big league, questions about the Prime Minister's well being should not be raised.

Like all political exercises, there also seems to be a hidden agenda in the yatra. Advani's first yatra, which was from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990, had helped the BJP consolidate its vote bank. In fact, Advani's rath yatra became synonymous with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Therefore, when the new yatra begins, it will bring back memories of the earlier yatra and even if Ayodhya is not part of the NDA's common minimum programme or the BJP's manifesto or vision statement, it will get highlighted all the same. This yatra will become a re-mix of the last yatra and instead of India Shining, the focus in public mind will once again be on the unstated agenda — Ayodhya.

Earlier this year while addressing a rally in Faizabad, Vajpayee spoke about development as the major issue. But he also talked about a settlement to the Ayodhya problem, which made it clear that the BJP needs micronutrients like Ayodhya to keep its chances alive.

Vajpayee is a leader whose perceived stature today is perhaps bigger than anyone else's in the entire subcontinent. But demands of real politic do sometimes compel political parties to devise strategies that are both subtle and not so subtle. The BJP will flaunt Vajpayee to cash in on his image, but in the end it will rake up the Ayodhya issue through Advani. The concept of a single mascot is perhaps a myth. Between us.