Over the past few days, view disseminating machines are agog with news of yet another homecoming, of that of a semi mustachioed guy with a deep baritone, who had been unceremoniously sacked from the BJP less than a year back. What has changed in the intervening period is anyone’s guess, ditto for what was lost when this guy was sacked or for what would be gained if he is taken back!
Jaswant Singh had been among the leading lights of the BJP for years. In fact, Jaswant was among the few frontline leaders of the BJP who could give ‘rootless wonders’ of the Congress a run for their money, even on a bad day. No matter if he lost the general elections, he could rely on his friendship with M/s Advani & Vajpayee to secure him important portfolios, even if it meant displeasuring the RSS. No matter that he would have lost a Panchayat election had he contested independently, he could count upon central support to destabilize Vasundhara Raje’s Government in Rajasthan. A person who would have scarcely bought a vote to the BJP had the standing that he could openly criticize BJP’s involvement in the Ayodhya movement. However, to give him his due, he was not a bad minister, though not an outstanding one either. But does that count a contribution enough for all the honours that the BJP bestowed upon him? Once expelled, Jaswant was like a woman scorned and no expletives were mild enough for his party of thirty years.
This is precisely the only man whose summary expulsion from the party was welcomed by all and sundry, except for those who wish BJP’s complete demise. Not a case like that of Kalyan Singh or Uma Bharati or the moving away of Babulal Marandi, Jaswant was an exit for which a few tears were shed, if at all. Even if for argument’s sake alone, we accept that Jaswant’s expulsion was incorrect, does it automatically imply that his return will set that wrong right? The BJP may do well do ask itself the following questions before it does take Jaswant back:
1. Is the BJP accepting that it was at fault when it expelled Jaswant?
2. Or is it that Jaswant has accepted that his conduct in promoting his sectarian view was wrong?
3. While Jaswant does have a lot to gain by coming back to the BJP, what does BJP have to gain by getting this ‘prodigal son’ back? A single vote, maybe!
4. What message is it sending to those who have stayed on in this party for decades, working behind the scene without getting any rewards?
5. What does it say about the importance of ideology in the BJP? That there is no ideology and whims and personal eccentricities of its senior members define ideology?
6. What next? What will Jaswant do or what would BJP do with Jaswant?
7. What would be the impact of these decisions on the party’s image? The NDA anyways remains a lodge where anyone can walk in and leave at will; the party too seems to be taking purposeful strides towards becoming a mirror image of the NDA
8. Finally, what harm would befall the BJP if Jaswant remains outside? Or is it that Jaswant’s return is a personal endeavor of a man who is perpetually ashamed of having led the greatest mass movement in Independent India; a man who can stand everything but adverse comments of those who would never vote for him?
While it is elementary to accept that defeat weakens self belief, it numbs the mind to see a once surging party bending over backwards to support individuals like Jaswant, Mallya and Jethmalani. No wonder that its so-called allies and its opponents treat it like dirt
