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George would like to remain outside Vajpayee Cabinet, other allies debate the move

Samata Party leader George Fernandes today said he "would not like personally to join" the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government at the Centre.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi before the start of the informal meeting of the BJP and its allies to discuss the post-poll strategy and evolve common programmes and other issues, Fernandes, however, said if his party leaders asked him to join the ministry, he would abide by that decision.

Fernandes and leaders of other parties allied to the BJP had gathered at the home of BJP prime ministerial candidate Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the meeting.

Naveen Patnaik, leader of the Biju Janata Dal, said his party would join the Cabinet, and indicated that there would be one Cabinet minister from his party in the coalition government.

Asked whether he would join the cabinet, Lok Shakti chief Ramakrishna Hegde said, "The question does not arise at the moment." He also expressed confidence that the President will invite Vajpayee to form the government as his group was the single largest in the hung Parliament.

Among others attending the meeting were Akali Dal leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Surjeet Singh Barnala, Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy, Tamizh Rajiv Congress leader V K Ramamurthy and AIADMK leader V R Nedunchezhian. The Akali Dal is understood to have demanded three berths in the ministry. This includes one Cabinet post and two ministers of state.

UNI

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