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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
Defence Minister George Fernandes' nod to a meeting with Democractic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah has angered Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani.
Both Advani and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had refused to meet the Kashmiri leader when he arrived in New Delhi last Wednesday.
"I don't think Advaniji is too pleased that Fernandes has agreed to meet Shabir Shah. And this is not the first time he [Fernandes] has taken a view different from that of the government on an important issue. Just a few days back he had criticised the government's divestment policy... all this seems to be part of an emerging pattern," a senior BJP leader said.
There is already talk in party circles that Advani's detractors may be using Fernandes to undermine the deputy prime minister's authority.
Sources point out that it is not a mere coincidence that the defence minister has become more assertive after assuming charge as Samata Party president on Sunday.
Political observers feel that the latent struggle for power between the prime minister and his deputy is being played out now through Fernandes.
They underscore that the prime minister had reinducted Fernandes into his Cabinet in face of stiff resistance from the Opposition. Now, it could well be time for Fernandes to repay the debt.
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