India:
Right-wing government falls

by Rob Gowland

The right-wing, right-wing communal-based Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost 
office as the Indian national government on April 18 after being defeated 
in a vote of confidence. The defection of one of the BJP's allies, the 
corruption-plagued southern bloc from Tamil Nadu led by former actress 
Jayalalitha Jayaram, meant the BJP could muster only 269 votes to the 
opposition's 270. The BJP-led coalition had been in office for just 13 
months.

The Hindu-nationalist BJP has deeply divided Indian society and provoked 
communal violence on a scale unseen since partition by the British after 
WW2.

It pursued IMF economic policies, seriously disadvantaging large sectors of 
the population. And it provoked a nuclear arms race with Pakistan that has 
threatened the peace of the whole region.

The BJP's championing of communal interests and religious fundamentalism 
threatened the many minorities in India and undermined the country's 
secular constitution, on which its continued stability depends.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi 
during the weekend the BJP Government was defeated and issued a statement 
welcoming its defeat as "a significant step forward in the struggle against 
communal forces".

The CPI(M) said the BJP Government's rule was marked by "growing attacks on 
minorities, particularly the targetting of the Christian community" and 
"the gross misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution twice to dismiss the 
elected government in Bihar".

The CPI(M) statement said that the growing economic difficulties and 
hardships faced by the people due to the economic policies of the BJP and 
"the spoiling of relations with our neighbours due to jingoism have all 
contributed to a disastrous record".

With the defeat of the BJP, the various political parties have been seeking 
coalition allies in an attempt to form a new government without having to 
hold fresh elections.

Most likely contender to lead a new coalition government is the Congress 
Party, led by Italian-born Sonia Ghandi.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) reiterated its stand that "in the present 
situation in parliament, the initiative to form a government will have to 
be taken by the Congress Party. The CPI(M) would support such a government 
from outside on an issue by issue basis.

"Such a government must take immediate steps to undo the damage done to the 
secular fabric of the system and reassure the minorities. Steps will have 
to be taken to provide relief to the people suffering from the economic 
crisis."

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau appealed to "all secular political parties" to take 
the necessary steps "to see that an alternative government is formed. They 
must be alert to see that the BJP manoeuvres to stage a comeback are 
foiled."

At the time of press Sonia Ghandi had failed to rally the necessary 
majority to form a government raising the prospect of fresh elections.