The Chinar Leaves: A Political Memoir by M.L. Fotedar

Author:M.L. Fotedar
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Published: 2015-10-14T18:30:00+00:00

19

PARTY AFFAIRS

From 1983 January itself I had started planning for the next Lok Sabha elections. I had been asked to start the process of selecting candidates in consultation with all concerned. Indiraji started touring the entire country systematically. She emphasized the need for India’s unity and integrity—the problem posed in Punjab had proved a severe test of it. Under Indiraji’s leadership, the nation had emerged stronger through the crisis.

In July 1984, in Andhra Pradesh, there was a division in the Telugu Desam Party. Bhaskar Rao, who had been in N.T.R.’s cabinet (having earlier defected from the Congress), took a large number of MLAs to meet the governor, Ram Lal, and requested him to dismiss the chief minister and allow him to form a government. Ram Lal obliged him and dismissed N.T.R. as chief minister. This created a sensational situation. N.T.R. reacted by whisking away MLAs from Bhaskar Rao’s camp, keeping them under his physical control and bringing them to Delhi to parade them in Rashtrapati Bhavan. N.T.R. had succeeded in regaining majority support. He called on President Giani Zail Singh and used various methods to project his strength. Later he was asked to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

In the meantime, Indiraji had decided to recall Ram Lal and send a mature and respected figure as Andhra Pradesh governor. The choice was Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, a very pious person who could prove to be an appropriate guide to N.T.R. also. Her assessment proved to be correct.

In July–August 1984, Vice President M. Hidayatullah’s term ended, and Indiraji decided to have R. Venkataraman in that post. In August 1984, Uma Shankar Dikshit (father-in-law of Sheila Dikshit, former Delhi chief minister) was sent as governor of West Bengal. Dikshit had earlier been Union home minister. He used to write letters to Indiraji on various political and administrative matters. The letters used to be put in a personal cover and sent through me for Indiraji’s perusal. Suggestions from Dikshitji were pragmatic and in the interest of the party and the government. Some of the suggestions were accepted by Indiraji for implementation on priority.

Elections had been held in Assam in 1983. Anwara Taimur lost the confidence vote in the assembly. President’s Rule was imposed for one year. As required by the Constitution, elections were held and a popular government was formed. A leader from the Ahom community was appointed as chief minister. He was able to control the administration and give representation to all sections of people.

Indiraji intensively toured the length and breadth of the country, particularly to mobilize the party and to give a new orientation to the national atmosphere.

In 1981, Indiraji held a conclave of chief ministers of Bihar, Orissa, UP, MP, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat to focus on the problems of the tribal communities in India and to evolve measures for accelerated progress and development of tribals. After the conclave, a scheme for the uplift of tribals was drafted and finalized, and Indiraji directed all the ministries, departments and organizations concerned to implement the measures.

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