Since the last General Election, the party has been in thrall to indiscipline and disgruntled factionalism. It's almost as if the party has a penchant for internal friction. From coping with a maverick Uma Bharati's outbursts to disenchanted members at the local level, the tide of discord has swelled to a stage that would be a folly to ignore.
Madan Lal Khurana's resignation from the party this month brings this brewing in-house dissatisfaction once again before the public eye. It is time for the BJP to get its house in working order. The interests of the party are ill-served by a constant washing of its dirty linen in the public arena.
At a fundamental level, the party still gives the impression of grappling with the uncertainty of the post-Vajpayee era. It continues to search for a leader with the Vajpayee like charisma and ability to transcend the party's immediate political base and build bridges amongst different communities.
The long-term leadership question is yet to be satisfactorily answered. Rajnath Singh may be the current party president but it's hardly anybody's contention that were the BJP to return to office in 2009, he would be the party's prime ministerial candidate. It is also relevant to note that L K Advani is nearly 80 years old. While his advancing age does not automatically mean that he would be unable to withstand the rigours of prime ministerial office but by the next General Election he will be close to 83 years. It is open to question whether the pressures of a five-year term may be too much for him.
At the very minimum, L K Advani should carefully consider the moment when he ought to gracefully move away from the front-bench of the BJP decision-making machinery into a more advisory capacity. Timing is the key. It would be appalling for his own sake if he allowed events to reach a tipping point where the party turns on him after a lifetime of service, much in the same way as the Tories ousted Maggie Thatcher.
The thorny issue of effective leadership is a subject that the party is keen to avoid tackling until absolutely necessary. However, it is an inescapable issue, bound to appear on the horizon. Looking ahead, you may well witness a last minute rambunctious scuffle over the BJP leadership just before the next General Election. The party should anticipate this possibility and while 2009 is some distance away, preliminary thoughts should certainly be devoted to the issue.
At stake too is the wider ideological direction of the BJP. Whether the party can calibrate itself into a robust secular and mercantile alternative to the dynastic proclivities of the Congress will be critical to its future success.
Indiscipline in the ranks, desultory leadership and an uncertain policy agenda plague the party. There is an urgent need within the party to be alert to these weaknesses in its own firmament. As Pramod Mahajan battles for his life, thoughts go towards him.
It is worth recalling his comments in an interview with Karan Thapar less than a fortnight ago. In that interview, Pramod Mahajan admitted with disarming frankness that "I don't think we are out of the crisis completely. We still have a long way to go." It is essential that this internal revaluation should take place particularly since an effective Opposition is almost as vital as an effective government. This is a yatra that the party should definitely undertake.
Rishabh Bhandari is a lawyer at a global law firm in London. These are his personal views.first published:April 24, 2006, 12:21 ISTlast updated:April 24, 2006, 12:21 IST
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The attempt on Pramod Mahajan's life has been shocking and unfortunate to say the least. As the BJP leaders and the public rightfully send him fervent wishes of support for a speedy recovery, at a later juncture when it's appropriate the party should also dwell on the concerns that Pramod Mahajan expressed recently with candour regarding its current state and prospective dilemmas.
Since the last General Election, the party has been in thrall to indiscipline and disgruntled factionalism. It's almost as if the party has a penchant for internal friction. From coping with a maverick Uma Bharati's outbursts to disenchanted members at the local level, the tide of discord has swelled to a stage that would be a folly to ignore.
Madan Lal Khurana's resignation from the party this month brings this brewing in-house dissatisfaction once again before the public eye. It is time for the BJP to get its house in working order. The interests of the party are ill-served by a constant washing of its dirty linen in the public arena.
At a fundamental level, the party still gives the impression of grappling with the uncertainty of the post-Vajpayee era. It continues to search for a leader with the Vajpayee like charisma and ability to transcend the party's immediate political base and build bridges amongst different communities.
The long-term leadership question is yet to be satisfactorily answered. Rajnath Singh may be the current party president but it's hardly anybody's contention that were the BJP to return to office in 2009, he would be the party's prime ministerial candidate. It is also relevant to note that L K Advani is nearly 80 years old. While his advancing age does not automatically mean that he would be unable to withstand the rigours of prime ministerial office but by the next General Election he will be close to 83 years. It is open to question whether the pressures of a five-year term may be too much for him.
At the very minimum, L K Advani should carefully consider the moment when he ought to gracefully move away from the front-bench of the BJP decision-making machinery into a more advisory capacity. Timing is the key. It would be appalling for his own sake if he allowed events to reach a tipping point where the party turns on him after a lifetime of service, much in the same way as the Tories ousted Maggie Thatcher.
The thorny issue of effective leadership is a subject that the party is keen to avoid tackling until absolutely necessary. However, it is an inescapable issue, bound to appear on the horizon. Looking ahead, you may well witness a last minute rambunctious scuffle over the BJP leadership just before the next General Election. The party should anticipate this possibility and while 2009 is some distance away, preliminary thoughts should certainly be devoted to the issue.
At stake too is the wider ideological direction of the BJP. Whether the party can calibrate itself into a robust secular and mercantile alternative to the dynastic proclivities of the Congress will be critical to its future success.
Indiscipline in the ranks, desultory leadership and an uncertain policy agenda plague the party. There is an urgent need within the party to be alert to these weaknesses in its own firmament. As Pramod Mahajan battles for his life, thoughts go towards him.
It is worth recalling his comments in an interview with Karan Thapar less than a fortnight ago. In that interview, Pramod Mahajan admitted with disarming frankness that "I don't think we are out of the crisis completely. We still have a long way to go." It is essential that this internal revaluation should take place particularly since an effective Opposition is almost as vital as an effective government. This is a yatra that the party should definitely undertake.
Rishabh Bhandari is a lawyer at a global law firm in London. These are his personal views.
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