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	SOUL SEARCHING IN BJP AND LEFT PARTIES By T S Rao   Since the beginning of this year, the developments in two major political parties in Indian political scene, Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist), are quite surprising.            First were the developments in BJP. The initial indiscipline in the party was seen as the result of the losing the 2004 Parliament elections. However, with Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organisation of the BJP, leadership itself coming out in to open about the need for passing on the baton of leadership to next generation by L.K. Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee, some glitter and charm of the Party was lost. However, this was hushed up by some clever politicking by middlemen. This was followed by sharp criticism from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), another sister organisation of RSS, about the factors responsible for electoral losses. The VHP's main thrust was that BJP deviated from its ideological moorings, of Hindutva especially building Ram Janmabhoomi temple. To the dismay of its allies in National Democratic Alliance, BJP leadership for a while, tried to revive the Rama Janmabhoomi issue. Every one in the media felt that another Rath yatra by BJP President is on cards. While this development in all its complexities is on, BJP President L.K. Advani in a visit to Pakistan said that Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, was a secular man. This statement let loose a mayhem in the Party. The RSS publicly opposed the statement saying it was a personal opinion of the BJP President. Some BJP stalwarts like Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi said this was not a party line. In this confusion suddenly the demand for 'one man one post' was revived. Ostensibly this demand was against L.K. Advani who holds the post of leader of the BJP in Parliament and Presidentship of the Party. Though the big wigs in the Party again evolved a compromise, the structure and discipline in the Party was broken. This sordid drama in BJP indicates two distinct trends. At one level the senior leaders are finding it extremely difficult to find suitable persons to hand over the leadership. Some may argue that senior leaders in the party are unwilling to handover their predominant position so easily. Whatever may be the reason, these developments did make a dent in BJP's public image. At another level, BJP clinging on to its Hindutva ideology is quite surprising to every political observer. In 21st Century, with information revolution bringing together people and nations together, some one arguing India is for Hindus logic seems to be out of place. In 1991 it did pay electoral dividends to BJP because of the frenzy and surprise that were built up at that time to demolition of Babri Masjid. But to assume such a story can be repeated again in secular India is political naivety. What ever may be the final outcome in BJP, as on today it is a fractured political party with different groups pulling it in different directions. In addition the Party's ideological moorings have to be restated in the coming months to give it a unique identity in Indian polity. While this BJP saga is taking its twists and turns, the leftist parties, especially CPI (M), seems to be in a log Jam. Unlike the BJP, the leftist parties quietly built their successors to the current leadership. The way Prakash Karat, his wife and Sitaram Yechuri were presented to the media, it became clear to every one that generation change is on in CPI (M). However, the confusion in the left ranks came in to open on economic policies being pursued by Congress led UPA government. Even in economic policies, the thrust of objection seems to be the way Congress led government is wooing foreign capital in to the Indian economy. They opposed tooth and nail to the privatisation of some of the Navratna Public Sector undertakings like BHEL. The left parties went to the extent of disassociating with the coordination committee of the Common Minimum Programme. One fine morning in August, the diehard leftists in New Delhi realised that their comrades in Kolkata (West Bengal) are following the footsteps of Congress without any hiccups. In fact, the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in his recent trip to Singapore and Indonesia offered all incentives to investors from these two countries. Later speaking to media he made it clear that dogmas and dogmatic approach have little relevance in today's world. This prompted the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to gently remind the left parties in Parliament that what is good for West Bengal is good for India too. With senior party leaders like Jyoti Basu, who gracefully retired, endorsing Chief Minister's policy, the party's rank and file are reorienting themselves to new economic ground realities. The sharp differences between BJP and CPI (M) are visible. While the former is unwilling to move forward by reorienting their ideological moorings, CPI (M) and other left parties not only passed on the baton to next generation but also are also slowly readjusting to new realities. That takes us to the situation in Congress Party. Fortunately for Congress, its leader ship is always looking for young talent. The way Mrs India Gandhi encouraged the so called Young Turks or Rajiv Gandhi inducting a number of bright young politicians or the way P.V. Narasimha Rao and now Dr. Manmohan Singh are looking for new ideas indicate the Party made itself flexible in a broad nationalistic frame work. How each of these parties would fare in electoral politics four years from now is to be seen. CNF