While the report is being dubbed as a damp squib as nothing much came out of it despite the Commission taking 17 long years to prepare it, politicians are not going to let it go? Every party is taking positions keeping in view its interests and future. It is on the basis of their present political line of the parties and their perspectives. The issues have been projected in the context of the present political positions of the party. It is more important to political parties in states where the BJP is a force and not in the south where it has not been able to spread except in Karnataka.

There are some who believe that the verdict of the Commission may benefit both the Congress and the BJP to a certain extent in U.P. They believe that while the Muslims may turn towards the Congress, the BJP may try to consolidate the Hindu votes. But recent Assembly and Lok Sabha polls have shown that Ayodhya has ceased to be a major issue with the community. Where does that leave the two regional parties dominating U.P - The Samajwadi Party and the ruling BSP? The growth of the two national parties in U.P may mean the shrinking of these two regional parties.

For the BJP, the report has ended the suspense. As expected, the Commission has pointed a finger at some senior BJP leaders including former Prime Minister Vajpayee. The BJP, supported by the Sangh Parivar, naturally will shrug any responsibility. In any case, nothing is going to happen if one goes by the action taken report. Even if the government plans more action, it is bound to take a long time knowing the way our system works. Leaders like Advani and Joshi are already fighting a legal battle in the courts, which are moving at a snail's pace. Meanwhile, the BJP and the Sangh parivar may defend their case with the public.

Secondly, Advani, who was on his way out due to the RSS pressure, has gained some oxygen because it will not be possible to remove him immediately after the Commission report indicting him. The party and the Sangh Parivar will have to rally behind him and let him choose his own timing to bow out gracefully. He will also get a leeway in choosing his successor.

Thirdly, with leaders like Advani and Joshi indicted, the field is clear for the second-rung leaders like Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Venkaiah Naidu to assert themselves for their place in the party. The second rung leaders may choose a liberal outlook as they know that the younger generation voters are not interested in just Hindutva ideology but want to have other things like jobs, development and governance. If BJP has to survive, it has to change itself to suit their requirements.

Fourthly, the RSS may think twice to put pressure on Advani and BJP to toe their line. The remote control exercised over the party may also weaken. With the RSS not breathing down its neck, the BJP may be able to bloom on its own.

Fifthly and more importantly, does the Commission report mean a rethink on the part of the BJP about its ideology? Obviously not. The BJP has already realised that Ayodhya has been used for one election and it is not going to help the party any more. But that does not mean that it will openly acknowledge it as was seen in the statement made by L.K Advani in Lok Sabha while raising the leakage of the report.

As for the Congress, much depends upon how it makes use of the findings of the Liberhan Commission. Will it use to defame the BJP politically? Will it really try to bring law as suggested by the Commission to separate religion and politics? With the Congress feeling more jubilant and confident after its recent victory in the Assembly polls, the leadership is in a comfortable position to take bold measures. The most important thing for the Congress is to build the party in U.P. With the upward swing already showing, it has to keep up this momentum. Once the party stabilises itself in U.P. and Bihar, the Rahul strategy may work elsewhere.

As for as the left parties, they are in a dilemma. They are peeved with the Congress and its growing clout and therefore do not want the Congress to take advantage of the report. At the same time they want the BJP to be punished and embarrassed. Right now they have taken a position against the government. The left parties do want the Congress to benefit from the report in the Jharkhand elections but they are also against those involved in the demolition of babri masjid.

The RJD would go along with the Congress. For one thing, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has already realised his mistake of not aligning with the Congress during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. It would be to his advantage to expose the ruling JD (U) in the state and embarrass chief minister Nitish Kumar for his party's alliance with the BJP. Lalu is preparing for the next Assembly polls in Bihar and has to fight the JD (U)-BJP combine.

Regional parties like DMK and AIADMK are not much concerned about the report, as the BJP hasn't taken roots in Tamil Nadu. Their concern is limited to their own turf and both had been partners with the BJP during the NDA regime. Telugu Desam party finds itself against both the Congress and the BJP and will speak against both. Trinamool Congress is demanding action against the BJP.

While the Commission findings or the action taken report are not startling in any sense, it has certainly created a storm in the teacup. The Congress may have succeeded in dividing the opposition on the Ayodhya issue but very soon the left and the right may come together on other things like price rise, Madhu Koda corruption issue and other issues affecting the common man. (IPA Service)