BJP should act with greater caution

The BJP has suspended Kirti Azad, a three-term party Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, from the party’s primary membership for running a campaign against Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on implied charges of corruption and financial irregularities during the latter’s stewardship of DDCA, Delhi’s cricket body, over a long period of 13 years. This is not unexpected. Mr Azad raising the issue repeatedly has drawn AAP into setting up a commission of inquiry to probe DDCA matters when Mr Jaitley headed it. Congress, too, has demanded the finance minister’s resignation in the House.

In effect, Mr Azad pressing his case of corruption in high places at a time when there is a BJP government at the Centre has clearly riled the party and caught its national leadership off guard. But it is noteworthy that the saffron party had at no point sought to muzzle Mr Azad before the BJP-led NDA government was formed. Its case for suspending the MP may have looked stronger to outsiders if there had been a history of warnings, caution, or disciplinary action against the MP. An MP would be deemed to engage in indiscipline or anti-party activities within Parliament only if he defies the party whip on a vote. Moving against an MP for speaking out against ministers of his own government is unlikely to be categorised as indiscipline within the meaning of the framework prescribed for parliamentary parties.

Since Mr Azad has been elected by the people, the BJP cannot terminate his membership of the Lok Sabha as long as he does not defy a party whip, particularly a three-line whip. He has the backing of the law, and of parliamentary practice, in this regard. But there can be no question that he has embarrassed his party, and is going to town saying that his sole motive is to fight corruption, which he says is in accord with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda.

But it will remain open to question — and to political challenge — whether, for MPs, suspension from membership is a proportionate response if they embarrass their party or target a minister of their own government. And where will this stop? Shatrughan Sinha and R.K. Singh — both BJP Lok Sabha MPs from Bihar — have also been persistently critical of the party, although they have not campaigned against a particular leader or minister. Indeed, Mr Sinha has lent his backing to Mr Azad.

It is too early to say if dissatisfaction will spread among BJP MPs as a result of action against Mr Azad. Some of it may depend on whether there are any damaging revelations against the finance minister. Politically, BJP’s wounding defeat in Bihar has also made a difference. Perhaps the ruling party should act with greater circumspection.