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Allies may decide if Sonia is to be PM: Pawar

Sharad Pawar has indicated that the question of Congress president Sonia Gandhi becoming prime minister of an alternative government will depend on those who support the party from outside when the occasion arises.

"If there was a clear cut majority for the Congress, Mrs Gandhi would automatically be the choice for prime ministership," Pawar said. ''But here if you have to take the support of over 100 people from outside, then these issues have to be discussed with various people. But the initiative will definitely have to come from the Congress president herself.''

In an interview to Eenadu Television, the senior Congress leader said Sonia would have to decide in which direction the party would go. Asked if the Congress was being forced into a situation where it was not ready to run a government but would have to do it, he said, ''Yes, that is the situation.''

''We always said that we are not eager to form a government. But now the BJP has brought such a situation, or looks like bringing in such a situation in the country, that somebody has to work in the direction of providing a viable alternative.''

Asked whether the Congress would be starting from a position of disadvantage, Pawar said since the party did not have a majority, it would not be an easy task. He felt it would not be easy for the Congress or any other party/groups to provide a stable government if AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha withdraws support and the BJP-led government collapses.

''But being the most experienced party, the party which has managed the reins of this country for so many years, and know how to function and administer, our performance will definitely be better than others,'' he said.

Asked if there was any way an alternative government could be formed without the AIADMK's help or participation, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that would be difficult to say at this juncture. He felt there should be some minimum understanding on all issues with the parties who would support the Congress in forming an alternative government.

''There should be some understanding with the CPI-M, other Left parties, the Socialists and others. It is better to discuss these issues in advance,'' he said.

Asked about the Jayalalitha factor, Pawar said, ''We have not talked with her. She has also not taken action. Suppose she announces her action tomorrow and suppose she suggests that she is ready to support and co-operate with the Congress, then it will be the job of the Congress leadership to go and discuss this with her at length.'' He added that the Congress would be able to thrash out problems with Jayalalitha better than the BJP.

Pawar reiterated there would have been ''serious trouble'' if the Congress or any other party had deliberately and systematically made efforts to threaten the BJP government.

''But I have also said," he added, "that if they collapse because of their internal contradictions, then the situation will be altogether different. Then probably the Congress will have to give a serious thought, in what way we can provide a viable alternative...I don't know what will happen in the next two or three days. But it looks like Chennai seems to be upset with this government. And if Chennai is going to withdraw support to this government, definitely the government will be in a minority.''

Asked if Jayalalitha was putting off her decision to withdraw support to the BJP-led government because she had not got any concrete assurance from the Congress, Pawar said, ''I have no knowledge about whether she has approached the Congress. But according to my information, no.''

UNI

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