In the eight months we have been in power, the insurance Bill is the only issue on which the Vajpayee Government and the BJP have publicly differed. What happened was not good and it is a lesson for us all. It is true that earlier the BJP was ready to open the insurance sector only for domestic players. But when we came to government, it was felt that looking at the global economic situation and the economic situation weinherited, opening the insurance sector had almost become a reference point for what India does for foreign investors. So the idea was floated in the Finance Ministry and later, a Group of Ministers looked at it...

Was there enough consultation within the party?

There was a communication gap, particularly when today they (we) are in government. I can only say this much. The few of them (the party does not mean hundreds of people) who were not part of the Government missed the discussion. Due to that, this thing was created.

The BJP can ill-afford such a communication gap when you yourself say the insurance Bill was a sign of the party following an investor-friendly path.

I agree, I agree. When I say there was a communication gap, there was one. After all, my national president made a comment...Normally, the BJP party never interferes into government administration.

A message has gone out that there is one voice of the BJP and another of the BJP Government. An editorial yesterdaytermed it the BJP's civil war...

When I say lessons for the future, I mean something like the insurance Bill, where basics are involved. When the leader of the Government and the entire Cabinet takes a decision, they should also take party leaders into confidence. But there is also a lesson here for the party. Suppose, sometimes, there is a communication gap, the BJP has to take the first lesson of not going public.

But let me also tell you, there can be two, even 10 voices. The BJP cannot be compared to the Congress where there is a dynastic system. We are a democratic party...Though Vajpayeeji, no doubt, has all along been number one, there are other leaders also. He must have communication with them.

Would you say party president Kushabhau Thakre has been irresponsible on this issue?

That would be a harsh comment. This happens sometimes. You see the BJP is a party with a difference. That never meant the BJP did not have differences...There were differences even when the party discussedopening up of the insurance sector for domestic players. There cannot be policy derived where everyone will agree. But when you derive a consensus viewpoint or a majority viewpoint, that is the party policy and a person who opposes it has no right to go public...

The Prime Minister thrashed out the issue at a four-hour-long meeting with partymen. What corrective steps is the BJP taking given the dismal post-poll scenario?

The BJP is facing problems of growth. We had just two seats in 1980, now have 182. As far as these elections are concerned, the results do not surprise me. But naturally, nobody expected us to lose three states -- not even our opponents...We need to learn the art of finding time for the party while running the Government. Like any other party, we too have limited stars. You hardly have enough talent to simultaneously run the party and the Government. Both are inter-dependent and inter-linked.

You are now in the Cabinet due to a limited expansion. The Prime Minister clearedyour appointments without consulting allies. Isn't this so?

After the (last) session, he was planning to make a large expansion. He had chalked out names and talked with a few allies, the party president, Advaniji, Joshiji...And while newspapers were projecting that the allies were opposed to the BJP's selection, it was the other way round. I will not name them but a few allies were not in a position to name their representatives. So they said, why not wait. Immediately afterward, the elections came. And when the results were still pouring in, the Prime Minister decided to have a limited expansion.

The expansion has annoyed several of your allies. Jayalalitha is even taking part in an anti-BJP rally.

Sushma Swaraj was holding Information and Broadcasting, Buta Singh had Communications, and External Affairs was with the Prime Minister. Did we disturb any ministry of an ally? The BJP cannot decide who should represent an ally party in the Cabinet. Similarly, no ally party has a right to decideour nominees. And to the best of my knowledge, there are vacancies on the AIADMK's part. George (Fernandes) spoke to her and asked for two names for the vacancies of Muthiya and R.K. Kumar...The moment Jayalalitha makes up her mind, the Prime Minister will not take more than 24 hours to get her nominees in.

The BJP has tried to apportion blame for the poll debacle on the Government's media bosses by reportedly moving S. Narendra and Harish Avasthi out. Were you in favor of this?

I do not blame anybody. They tried their level best...and we have no complaints. But if some political boss feels someone else can do a better job, then transfers...Transfers should not always be looked at as a punishment. Sometimes, you are more comfortable with other people. But as things stand today, none of them is transferred. Narendra did an excellent job in eight months. I have no complaints about Harish Avasthi either. At the same time, does this mean that a set-up cannot be changed at any point?

Now that youhave the I&B portfolio, are you planning to look into these transfers?

At present, no papers are moving. Narendra's transfer has been ordered by the Cabinet Secretariat. Why should I intervene? For any Cabinet Minister to examine a decision taken by the Prime Minister...would be too arrogant. I would not like even to re-examine the decisions taken by Sushmaji or my friend Mukhtar because they, after all, belong to the same Government and party.

What will be your priorities in the I&B Ministry?

I am still at a learning stage. There is the Broadcasting Bill, the Prasar Bharati. Another immediate problem is the employees' strike. But I have decided not to speak to the Press just now. I am going to chart out a plan for the first 100 days where these issues will be tackled. I should have a three-month plan ready by January 1.

Are you ruling out a mid-term poll?

Most of our allies continue to be anti-Congress and I do not expect any problem for the Government in the near future. It maynot be an easy run or a soft run...but the existence of the BJP Government is not in question. (Laughs) But it may be a bumpy road, a flight full of air pockets or turbulence, if you like.