Advani has almost crowned Modi by sulking: Lord Meghnad Desai, LSE

In a chat with ET Now, Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus of Economics, LSE shares his views on the BJP crisis. Excerpts:


ET Now: How bigger a setback is Advani’s tough stand for the BJP?

Lord Meghnad Desai: It is a surprise and it is a kind of nasty surprise which probably they will try to put away as soon as possible. If it stays and grows as a split, a real split, then of course it will be very damaging but I do not think it will.

ET Now: How does this impact Narendra Modi’s own political plans? Is it not a huge loss of face for Mr Modi as well?

Lord Meghnad Desai: Modi is a contentious person. There was dispute within the BJP about it...but Advani, by throwing a tantrum, which is the only way I can describe it, has more or less confirmed that Narendra Modi is now the number one star of the BJP. He does not like it because he thought he was number one. Yes, it distracts a bit from (Modi's) triumph moment, you better had Advani been there to cheer him but it is now clear that BJP will go to any length and have Modi as a number one rather than anybody else. So in a sense Advani has almost crowned Narendra Modi by sulking.

ET Now: Congress will have to battle corruption charges and anti-incumbency, BJP is in mess internally. Will that mean uncertainty for markets and the economy?

Lord Meghnad Desai: No, the corruption is bad on both sides. Indecisiveness and policy paralysis of the Congress, against Narendra Modi, who is a decisive person. BJP is playing on his image as a decisive person who gets delivery, who takes a lead, who is a good public speaker. The markets will look at this and they will discount Advani and they will say, okay by the time the next election is over, one year down the line, India will start growing again very strongly. The market should be cheered by what happened.