ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Time not ripe for formation of new government, says Congress

The Congress today said developments have not reached a stage where it could attempt an alternative government at the Centre.

Party spokesman Salman Khursheed said though there were 'positive indications' of a consolidation of secular forces and cracks in the ruling coalition, the Congress was of the view that it had the responsibility of playing the role of a 'constructive Opposition'.

There was no formal meeting or understanding among the Opposition parties with the Congress though many channels for inter-party interaction were open, he said.

Asked why the Congress was not playing an active role in bringing down the government despite a favourable political atmosphere, Khursheed said: ''The government exists on the support of BJP allies and not because of the Congress.''

About the absence of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha for Saturday's meeting of the coordination committee of the BJP's alliance partners, Khursheed said his party had noted with 'great interest' the development. People of the country were aware of the unfulfilled promise made to the AIADMK by the BJP before the election. ''A broken promise in Indian culture would appear very strange especially if they were made to a woman,'' he quipped.

Tell us what you think of this report