Ace strategist

In its latest issue, the Organiser profusely praises BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley for the way he handled elections in Karnataka. "BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley has won accolades for masterminding the party's strategy to win elections in many states, some of which were very challenging and crucial, like Punjab, Gujarat and lately, Karnataka. He has emerged as an ace strategist, helping the party tide over adverse situations. He will certainly have a crucial role to play in working out the party's electoral strategy for the coming elections (in J&K, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh before the end of the year and then the Lok Sabha elections in 2009)," it says.

In the interview Jaitley is quoted as saying, "The Karnataka results will have an impact on the elections of state assemblies and the national elections. It places BJP as a frontrunner for these elections. Its impact on the political environment is such that the Congress is losing a series of elections and the BJP and its allies are gaining a large number of them." In response to another question, while lauding the Election Commission for preventing booth capturing, the BJP general secretary says, "I think the traditional form of campaign, such as pamphlets, banners and some hoardings, easy access to public rallies should be allowed. It is also a process through which political leadership can develop and get more acceptability."

Debating secularism

The organ seconds party president Rajnath Singh's call for a "nation-wide debate on secularism and its aberration" at the party's recent national executive. Says the main editorial, "He (Rajnath) said the word has lost its meaning in the Indian context and it has to be made redundant. He is right and he could not have chosen a better occasion to raise this issue." It goes on to add, "The word (secularism) has lost its meaning by its abuse. It means radical anti-Hinduism and aggressive Muslim appeasement in India. The word carries no credibility. As a consequence, it will lose its sanctity, like socialism even if it remains in the Constitution. But Rajnath Singh has a point. A debate on the subject is a good education. It will clear many misconceptions and help India define its national identity... In the Nineties, the then BJP national president L.K. Advani, in the wake of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement, triggered a positive and powerful debate on pseudo-secularism. It became very fruitful in the then political discourse and changed the exposition of contemporary ideological format..."

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