Poll compulsion makes BJP voice shriller

Even if the pro-reforms section of the BJP leadership seems to be in favour of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, the party’s position against the UPA government’s latest policy appears to have hardened with an eye on elections.

The BJP’s ideological backbone, the RSS —  ardent believer in indigenous industry — opposed the NDA government’s move to allow 26 per cent FDI in the retail sector back in 2000. The RSS claims its view remained unchanged even today.

“It is not the question of 26 % or 31 %, we do not want any FDI in retail,” RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said on Tuesday when asked if his organisation would agree with the BJP if it agreed to a phased rollout of the FDI liberalisation.

 “I don’t know what the BJP may do or what the BJP-ruled states may do but as far the RSS is concerned, FDI in this sector is unacceptable,” Madhav said, claiming that as many as 10 million small businesses would be affected if the policy is implemented.

A BJP economist who served in former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s economic advisory cell said that while many party leaders may have campaigned for at least 26 per cent FDI in retail during the NDA rule (2004), political compulsions in the subsequent years (2009 general elections), appear to have changed the party’s position.

Now, with the UP elections scheduled in four months, the BJP would like to keep its poll boys happy.

The BJP’s election machinery apart from its own members, comprises cadre of the RSS, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and other rightwing groups. Displeasing them could prove costly to the BJP ahead of the UP elections and general elections two years down the line, the economist said.

“In principle, the BJP is not opposed to FDI in retail but what we are opposing is the manner in which it is being done. There had to be sufficient ground work before announcing such policies,” the BJP member said.