New Delhi: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today did not rule out return of an era of coalition politics in India, saying this was possibile in a country as "diverse and variegated" as it.
Advani gave his assessment on the possibility of the return of coalition politics at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading a full majority government.
"I would not say that. I still believe that a country as diverse and variegated as India may throw another coalition government again," Advani told a news channel when asked whether he thought that the era of coalition politics or coalition government is over in India.
Advani said in a country like India everyone should be prepared for all eventualities.
"It's not very common to have a government of a kind which is single party as was there in the earlier years of (post) Independence or even Vajpayee's own government. For some time it was virtually not a coalition govt. It can be anything. In a country like India you should be prepared for all eventualities," he said.
On other issues, Advani said it would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee if he is bestowed Bharat Ratna.
Speculations are rife that Vajpayee may be conferred with the country's highest civilian honour on the occasion of his birthday on December 25. Advani was among the first persons to suggest that Vajpayee be given the Bharat Ratna.
Advani also said he did not believe that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was not aware of the constitutional provisions allowing for declaration of Emergency that was imposed in 1975.
"I cannot accept that," said Advani, adding, "I feel that the Emergency during Indira Gandhi's period has been a bad mark, spot for Indiraji's career." Advani was among top opposition leaders who were jailed during Emergency.
President Mukherjee in his just released book The Dramatic Decade: the Indira Gandhi Years said Gandhi was not aware of the constitutional provisions allowing for declaration of Emergency and it was Siddartha Shankar Ray who led her into the decision.
Asked whether the time has come for the new government to acknowledge Vajpayee's contributions with Bharat Ratna, Advani said, "I don't think Bharat Ratna is appropriate as a reward or something that Vajpayee has contributed to the country, whatever he has done, he has been doing his duty both as a patriot well as the person assigned for the responsibility of becoming the PM of the country.
"He has been doing his duty and I do not think in terms of Bharat Ratna being a reward for performing once duty. Though if he is given Bharat Ratna, as I have myself suggested once, it would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like Vajpayee," Advani said.
Advani did not agree that when it came to naming BJP's prime ministerial candidate he conceded the space for Vajpayee.
"Very often it is thought that I conceded the space, it was his natural space. I always regarded him as my leader. I in fact, have been saying now these days after these interviews that for me he was a role model. How leader of the country should be like. Both in respect of his attitude to issues as well as in respect above all his absolute modesty and humility even when he could credit himself with many achievements.
In fact in his entire tenure as PM there is not one single aspect which I can regard as been a blot on him in his career," he added.
