The BJP, thrown into a spin by Leader of Opposition L K Advani’s statement to The Indian Express endorsing the Indo-US 123 agreement, will reposition itself on the crucial issue within the next couple of days.

A meeting of the party’s core group, which was scheduled today, was deferred and is likely to take place on Wednesday. “We are in the process of formulating our position in the light of Advaniji’s statement. Our opposition cannot be as strident as the Left’s. We will support the deal if our concerns are addressed,” said a member of the core group.

Advani had told The Indian Express on Sunday that if the UPA government could bring an amendment in the Atomic Energy Act to protect India’s strategic independence then “there is no problem with the 123 Agreement.” His position has not been in tune with the party’s public posturing so far on the issue, articulated vehemently by Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie.

However, the party is still trying to work out what amendments in the Act could address its concerns and the core group is expected to formulate this.

Advani’s view is finding support in the party. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, V K Malhotra said: “America is the superpower and the BJP wants India to have strategic relations with them. Communists do not want any alliance with the US but this position will only help China and Pakistan.”

Advani’s statement was derived from the dominant thinking within the party that by aligning its rhetoric on the deal so closely to that of the Left and other regional outfits such as the Samajwadi Party, the BJP went out of tune with its political constituency. By being assertive on the deal and pushing for engagement with the United States, the Congress suddenly appeared to be gaining support with what is considered the BJP’s urban, middle class constituency.

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