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The prime minister is again under pressure from supporters of his hardline deputy

The leadership battle for India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has flared again, exposing the two camps behind Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his hardline deputy Lal Krishna Advani.

Mr Vajpayee sees himself as the undisputed leader of the BJP and the man with the backing of the Indian public.

Mr Advani's supporters - Hindu nationalists who abhor Mr Vajpayee's 'soft' liberalism - want Mr Vajpayee to retire and let their man lead the party into next year's general election, pushing  an aggressive nationalist agenda.

The latest feud was provoked this week by BJP president Venkaiah Naidu.

While Mr Vajpayee was away fraternising with world leaders at the G8 summit in Evian, France, and at celebrations in St Petersburg, Russia, Mr Naidu - a member of the Advani camp - announced that both leaders would be 'equally' projected in the run-up to the general election.

A huge row broke out. The next day, Mr Naidu was forced to eat his words, saying there was no vacancy for the No1 slot, that Mr Vajpayee was the sole BJP leader and that Mr Advani was second in command.

Unusually, Mr Advani remained silent. During similar flare-ups in the past, he has been the first to declare his unstinting devotion to Mr Vajpayee.

Then, just when it seemed the crisis had blown over, Mr Vajpayee returned to New Delhi and did what he always does when he feels the BJP is getting bored with him - make comments hinting at retirement but calculated to gain a declaration of support.

'The BJP is not tired or dejected. It will contest the next election under Mr Advani's leadership,' he told a meeting in the capital.

His words showed that he was stung.

But, instantly, party leaders in a true to form reaction,  scrambled to pacify him.

The most ingratiating was Mr Naidu who strained every nerve to assure the prime minister.

Rushing to the podium after Mr Vajpayee's  bombshell, he gushed: 'You are the BJP leader, the government's leader, my leader, Advani's leader and the country's leader.'

Other senior leaders also hurried to reassure  Mr Vajpayee.

Once again, the tactic of the Advani camp - launch a trial balloon projecting Mr Advani as the new leader to replace the 'old and tired Vajpayee' had come a cropper.

What the latest crisis shows is that, despite the surface bonhomie,  the two camps are locked in a battle for supremacy.

Just a month ago, a BJP official close to Mr Vajpayee was removed from an important post. When Mr Vajpayee asked him later if he had been given any party work and was told 'no', he said: 'They think my time is up. But I think I'll be around for the next five years.'

Mr Advani's supporters have systematically sidelined   close allies to the prime minister.

A year ago, the BJP's sister organisation - the nationalist volunteer corps, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak, forced Mr Vajpayee to appoint Mr Advani as his deputy.

Mr Naidu's appointment as BJP president was also a victory for the Advani camp.

BJP sources say Mr Vajpayee is  unhappy at these developments but feels he is unable to speak out. 'Either he doesn't want to stir trouble or he is waiting for the right moment to strike,' said one leader of the party.

Although he has won this particular battle, it is unclear whether Mr Vajpayee can win the war.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak has already forced the government to go slow on economic reforms and a further opening up of the economy, policies it opposes.

Mr Vajpayee's room for manoeuvre is, therefore, limited. There is also a limit to the number of times he can scare the BJP into re-affirming its faith in him by threatening instant retirement. Next time round, the party may just decide to call his bluff.



Election comment exposes rift within India's ruling party