ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
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MP CM to be elected on Wednesday

The newly elected Congress legislature party in Madhya Pradesh will meet in Bhopal on December 2 to elect its leader.

CLP permanent secretary Virendra Tiwari said he had asked all party legislators to reach the state capital to attend the meeting.

Chief Minister Digvijay Singh is in Delhi to attend a meeting of the Congress Working Committee and hold consultations with the party leadership on the formation of new government. He will return to Bhopal on Monday morning.

The Congress retained power in the state by winning 173 seats in the 320-member Vidhan Sabha.

In Delhi, Singh called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday afternoon and briefed her on the party's handsome showing in the assembly election. According to sources, the meeting lasted about 20 minutes.

Sonia is understood to have complimented the chief minister for the party's good performance despite heavy odds.

Singh also reportedly discussed with the Congress president various matters relating to the formation of the new government in the state.

Earlier, Singh told the media that the ''poor performance'' of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre contributed largely to the victory of the Congress in the assembly election in his state.

''The overall performance of the government of India was one of the main issues in the assembly election in the state,'' he said.

Singh, who appeared jubilant over the Congress performance in the state, said the party had emerged stronger under Sonia's leadership.''The victory can be attributed to the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress workers and, of course, the people of the state who have reposed confidence in the party.''

Asked if in his opinion the Vajpayee government should continue in office after the BJP's rout in the assembly election, Singh said he could not comment on the issue. ''It is for the All India Congress Committee to take a stand on the issue.''

UNI

Assembly Election '98

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