Rebels in BJP bring political bete noire of party close

Vijay Deo JhaRANCHI Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The BJP rebels headed by Raghubar Das, former State BJP president, might have failed to dislodge Arjun Munda and Pasupati Nath Singh, but it surprisingly ended the cold war between the two political bete noires, Munda and the senior party leader and former Foreign Minister, Yashwant Sinha. It is learnt that Sinha had played a crucial role in diffusing the tension and saved the day for Munda. Although, Munda declined to say that the party was in the crisis due to the said move of the rebels. He hinted that personal grievances should not be aired at public forums. Talking about this new formed relationship, Munda said that he was ready to join hands with any body for the interest of the party. Yet, he said diplomatically that they have decided to forge a reciprocal relationship to strengthen the party in the State. The indication of this bonhomie came when both the leaders were seen together during the felicitation of some 10 newly elected councillors of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation. Interestingly, both Munda and Sinha were not seen together in any public forum from the last many months. If the sources are to be believed, Munda promised to take care of the interest of Sinha in the State politics during a luncheon. While commenting upon this a senior party leader said that in view of the coming elections, Sinha did not want to antagonise Munda and PN Singh since their removal from the party post was not possible. But his support to Munda was not without a political price. However, within the State BJP, it is being interpreted as a win win situation for Munda in making Sinha to realise his political importance in the State politics. But, how long this situation prevails is yet to be assessed. For the time being both the camps find no problem in keeping each other in good humour. The Munda camp was suspicious of the sudden interest of Sinha in the politics of the State which was seen by the Munda camp as a move to project Sinha for the post of the next Chief Minister of the State. But their known differences came to fore during the padyatra before Simaria by-election where Sinha advocated the need of a non-tribal Chief Minister for the State. Quickly reacting to it, the BJP stalwart Kailashpati Mishra denied this possibility. The statement of Sinha was held responsible for the poor performance of party in the election.