ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Jaya got what she wanted -- and more -- in Delhi

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

Despite projections to the contrary, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham leader J Jayalalitha got what she wanted -- and even more -- during her Delhi visit last week.

While she could not have her way with Cabinet changes, she did succeed in clearing her image as an 'eternal trouble-maker' and also project herself as the chief negotiator of BJP allies who 'think ahead'.

"The proposed Cabinet expansion, and the coordination committee meeting of the ruling coalition were only official reasons," concedes an AIADMK source. "She was more interested in clearing her image, and also to project herself as a possible negotiator that the Congress will have to deal with, if it came to that."

The upcoming assembly election in four states has the potential to topple the A B Vajpayee government, claims this source. "As the leader of the second largest party in the coalition, Jayalalitha would like to be seen as having a greater say than what our Lok Sabha strength commands. She is a tough negotiator, and could deliver a better deal for all willing to accept her leadership."

The timing of Jayalalitha's visit was fixed not just by coalition commitments, but by the upcoming assembly election. "We do not want to rule out any possibility in the days following the assembly election, hence Jayalalitha's careful handling of the Congress question."

As this source points out, Jayalalitha 'deftly handled' the possibility of aligning with the Congress in future, without actually hurting the BJP or the existing coalition. From a position of 'assertive opposition' to the BJP, she has quietly moved into 'ambiguity and ambivalence', without actually hurting egos, sentiments and support-base, as she had done in recent months.

At another level, Jayalalitha also succeeded in presenting herself as the focal-point of a 'ginger group' within the coalition. "True, the BJP did manage to defuse the situation by getting itself invited to her tea-party, and also attend the same, but her purpose had been served," says this source.

This source pooh-poohs suggestions that Jayalalitha wanted to discuss any 'anti-BJP programme' seriously with other coalition partners. "She knows too well that any such discussion would have been reported back to the BJP leadership. She knows even better that no amount of BJP- baiting would make political sense until the Congress is ready."

Adds the source in this context: "The non-BJP coalition partners, or at least most of them, do know the possibilities of the future, particularly after the assembly election. They also know that staying together, like the United Front partners did after the 1996 poll, would strengthen their bargaining position. Who else could they have as their leader when Jayalalitha leads the largest single coalition outside the BJP, and has also proved herself to be a tough nut to crack."

If it was this 'futuristic possibility' that was one reason for most invitees attending Jayalalitha's tea party, they also now concede her earlier point, at least half-way. Particularly after the 'Bihar fiasco', the 'Udham Singh Nagar row', and the 'Bengal package controversy', non-AIADMK partners too have concluded that the BJP might after all be taking the allies for granted.

"Now they are ready to concede Jayalalitha the benefit of the doubt in her earlier problems with the BJP," says the source. "This, as also her successful meetings with individual coalition leaders, and also media exchanges have made her acceptable to a wider section, than earlier. And to that extent, her mission was a greater success than expected."

To that extent, the AIADMK leader also side-steps the issue of Cabinet expansion, when Jayalalitha was expected to get three more berths for her party colleagues. She has even named her nominees, and her failure to ensure their early induction is seen as a letdown in party circles. So has been her inability to wrest the petroleum portfolio of Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress chief Vazhappadi K Ramamurthy.

"But they are all less important compared to the restoration of the party's national image, in the context of the post- poll scenario next month. Jayalalitha has been able to achieve this, and more. After all, our party MPs also know the realities of the situation, and also the possibilities of the future, when a short stint as minister may not serve any long-term purpose, either for the party or for the person concerned."

What also has not gone unnoticed was Jayalalitha calling on Supreme Court Chief Justice A S Anand, after his swearing-in at Delhi. Before elevation to the apex court, Justice Anand was chief justice of the Madras high court, when Jayalalitha was chief minister.

That was justification enough for the courtesy call, but Jayalalitha's rivals had appealed to President K R Narayanan not to invite her even to the swearing-in, what with court cases involving her and her aides pending before various courts up to the apex court.

Tell us what you think of this report