TDP stand hits Congress plans
The Congress, which appeared highly optimistic yesterday, sought to play down its efforts today, stating that it would not stake claim to form the government unless the United Front offered 'full support'.
The party's stand, announced by Congress Working Committee member Pranab Mukherjee, comes in the wake of UF convener and Telugu Desam Party supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu terming the Congress as his 'enemy number one'. The party seems to be equally rattled by the 'wait-and-watch' attitude of smaller parties.
If the UF does not extended its total support, ''where are the numbers for the Congress?'' Mukherjee said.
He said the UF core committee would meet tomorrow and ''the
Congress was not desperate to form the government''.
The Congress Working Committee, at an informal meeting today at party president Sitaram Kesri's home, felt it should take a cautious approach in this regard. The party would watch the developments and the UF's decision, sources said.
A formal CWC meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow.
Kesri and a large number of senior party leaders today called on Sonia Gandhi individually and held discussions on the latest political developments. Among them are Sharad Pawar, K Karunakaran, Dr Manmohan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Madhavrao Scindia, Bhajan Lal, S B Chavan, Arjun Singh, Kamal Nath and Shiela Dixit.
The meetings assume importance in the light of tomorrow's CWC meeting. Besides, several Congress leaders feel that the party should sit in the opposition.
Another section, however, continued its efforts to form a Congress government, and CWC member K Vijayabhaskara Reddy today urged the UF to support the Congress.
Toning down his tirade against the Telugu Desam Party, he said he was not seeking the AP government's resignation though it had lost its credibility with the Congress winning 22 of the 42 seats from the state.
Equally rattled by the TDP's anti-Congress stand is the Left Front. Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who was vocal till yesterday about supporting a Congress government, is now worried about keeping the UF flock together.
Little wonder the Left Front seemed undecided about forming a 'secular' government.
Following a meeting of the Left Front members, all that Communist Party of India national secretary D Raja would say was that ''if they (the Bharatiya Janata Party) have the numbers, they will form the government''.
Among those who attended today's meeting are CPI
general secretary A B Bardhan and Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo members Harkishen Singh Surjeet, Sitaram Yechuri and Prakash Karat.
The CPI-M Politburo also began a two-day session ahead
of a crucial central committee meeting tomorrow which will be
attended by Chief Ministers E K Nayanar and Jyoti Basu. Both were present at today's meeting.
The CPI-M said it would finalise its strategy for forming a
non-BJP government in a couple of days.
UNI
RELATED REPORT:
Cong plans to head coalition with UF
EARLIER REPORT:
Cong plans to head coalition with UF
Elections '98
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