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Fernandes meets Jaya in effort to keep the BJP flock together

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

Defence Minister George Fernandes met All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham chief J Jayalalitha at her Poes Garden home in Madras on Friday.

The 45-minute meeting assumes significance in the light of Jayalalitha declining the `Delhi Declaration' of the coalition partners, and also declaring to 'take appropriate decisions at the appropriate times' on her party's continued support to and participation in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre.

"There is no special significance to the meeting," said Fernandes, who is also convener of the BJP-led coalition. It was a courtesy call on his way to Lakshadweep. The Vajpayee government would complete its five-year term, and there was no need for Jayalalitha to sign the Delhi Declaration, either, he said.

True, there is no real threat to the Vajpayee government, from the AIADMK. But the Fernandes visit, it is said, was aimed at "keeping Jayalalitha happy". The coalition leadership does not want any cause for complaints from Jayalalitha, for her to threaten withdrawal of support. "It obviously does not want her to feel ignored, as on some previous occasions."

According to knowledgeable sources, the Fernandes visit was aimed at feeling the pulse of the AIADMK chief on her continued support to the Vajpayee government in the Budget session of Parliament. With Trinamul Congress leader Mamta Banerjee publicly declaring her continued support to the government 'for want of an option', the coalition leadership seems to feel the AIADMK's continued backing will push the 'recalcitrant' TDP "into a corner."

Indications are that the TDP is looking for ways of severing ties with the BJP before the November election to the Andhra Pradesh assembly, without damaging its own electoral standing. "The TDP cannot go with the Congress, the latter being its main electoral enemy. So even a minority government with the TDP abstaining from parliamentary votes cannot be ruled out. The coalition leadership wants to ensure that any such 'intrasigence' on the TDP's part does not tempt parties like the AIADMK. Hence the Fernandes visit."

AIADMK sources say, Jayalalitha will use her pivotal role to extract maximum political mileage and benefits for her party. She may revive her forgotten demand for the dismissal of the DMK state government in the light of the brutal killing of a BJP leader in Tiruchi. With the Samata Party already demanding the dismissal of four other state governments, including Bihar, Orissa and Gujarat, there is little that Fernandes, as party president could do to oppose Jayalalitha's demand.

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