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Sonia, Jaya moving closer to a tie-up

George Iype in New Delhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary J Jayalalitha are setting the stage for major changes in the political arena soon after the assembly elections in four states next month.

Congress politicians say both leaders are taking steps to break the ice in anticipation of their emergence as key centres of power in national politics if, as anticipated, the Bharatiya Janata Party takes a beating in the elections.

"Sonia and Jayalalitha are coming closer to do business after the elections. Both have publicly declared that they will explore all options for an alternative government at the Centre," a senior Congress politician told Rediff On The NeT.

The BJP, which rules Rajasthan and Delhi, is showing signs of panic after a recent survey said the growing disunity in its state units could help the Opposition, principally the Congress.

Though the BJP has effected a change of guard in Delhi, it is unlikely to help the party tide over the anti-incumbency sentiment in the capital and Rajasthan.

An anti-establishment mood swept away a major chunk of the BJP's votes in Rajasthan in the Lok Sabha election earlier this year, and the party lost 20 of the 25 seats in the state.

Political observers expect the Lok Sabha pattern to repeat itself in November.

The elections are crucial for the BJP. An adverse verdict could rock the already shaky coalition led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and result in some of its disparate partners deserting the BJP. The Congress will also go to town about the government having lost the people's confidence.

Therefore, Congress strategists believe the distinct change in Sonia and Jayalalitha's attitude is important.

Despite their repeated requests, the Congress leadership has not paid much attention to either Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav or Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav. But Sonia has been displaying considerable patience with the Left parties and the AIADMK, implying that she has made up her mind to recognise them as key players after the state elections.

"I think Jayalalitha's conviction that the Vajpayee government will not give in to her demands, and Sonia's need for the parliamentary numbers to put together a Congress-led coalition, will soon send alarm bells ringing in the BJP," an All India Congress Committee secretary said.

Though Sonia has not yet told any senior party members to negotiate with Jayalalitha for an alliance after the elections, sources said Congress and AIADMK politicians are trying to arrange a meeting between the two women.

But any successful pact would involve correcting the misgivings that the compulsions of realpolitik have forced on them in the past one year.

When Sonia plunged into the Congress campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in January, Jayalalitha was among her severest critics. She even questioned the competence of 'the Italian-born Sonia' to lead the country, saying the people would not accept her because of her alien background.

Since then, both women have not been on talking terms. But as her disenchantment with the BJP grows, Jayalalitha has been praising Sonia, albeit tangentially. And the latter has begun reciprocating.

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