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No alternative to Vajpayee, so Chautala will stick to NDA

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH OCT. 29. The Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, who was re-elected national president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), dropped enough hints to indicate that he was not happy with the Bharatiya Janata Party but at the same time there was no question of withdrawing support to the NDA regime as there was no alternative to the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In a rare interaction with Chandigarh-based correspondents here soon after his election, the Jat leader minced no words in asserting that the Congress was "anathema'' to him. His immediate reaction to a loaded question regarding the controversy relating to the foreign origin of the Congress supremo, Sonia Gandhi, was that she was a "foreigner'' who would never be acceptable to the people of India. While being evasive on the continuation of the INLD-BJP tie-up in the State before the general and Assembly elections in 2004-2005, he said he was not an "astrologer'' who could predict the future.

Interestingly, when asked whether the INLD was merging with the Samata Party and the Janata Dal

(U) in a bid to form a third front within the ruling NDA, he asserted that the INLD would maintain its separate identity and contest polls on its own symbol.

Much significance is being attached to his remarks that there was nothing wrong in the concept of a third front which was being mooted by those who were "upset'' with both the Congress and the BJP. He further asserted that the INLD was capable on its own to present itself as a third front. While admitting that he was in touch with the Samata Party leaders he said he approved such political moves, and added that the INLD would have no hesitation in either taking support or lending support to such a front.

Coming to the Rajasthan polls, he said that there was nothing wrong in the INLD contesting the election against the BJP. The INLD, though a constituent of the NDA, was an independent party and fully empowered to contest elections wherever it liked. He further asserted that the INLD would emerge as a force to reckon with in Rajasthan and play a key role in the formation of the next Government.

The Chief Minister lambasted the Congress for holding rallies and protest marches to seek the release of the former Deputy Union Minister, Jai Prakash, from jail. While refusing to go into the

issue whether the MLA could have committed a dacoity involving a sum of Rs. 3,600, he asserted that all were equal before the law and the police had taken action on the basis of a formal complaint. In case the charges were proved the police would file a chargesheet in court.

Mr. Chautala also announced the launching of five ambitious projects relating to health, animal husbandry, irrigation, town and country planning and forests on Haryana Day, which falls on November 1. He also announced the release of another instalment of Dearness Allowance to employees and pensioners.

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