Tamil Nadu   

Coalition politics is not opportunism, says Chidambaram

By Our Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE, JAN. 23. The Congress Jananayaga Peravai (CJP) leader, P. Chidambaram, today appealed to the people not to ignore alliances and coalition politics as ``opportunism'' as otherwise ``complete instability'' will prevail in the country. Coalition politics should be ``welcomed and encouraged'' as ``India's political system is maturing.''

Responding to queries on the confusing political scenario, Mr. Chidambaram, citing Western Europe, told newsmen that the formation of alliances now was ``natural and practical politics.''

India should be prepared for and reconcile itself to coalition politics. He termed the contradictory views ``reactionary.'' ``In a coalition, no party has given up its principles. But in a pluralistic country, which has given rise to so many parties and where voters are divided, such a situation is inevitable.'' After all, an alliance was formed to face the elections.

To a question, Mr. Chidambaram said it would be possible for the Congress and the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to co-exist. ``Apart from combating communalism, they could have a common programme on promoting job-oriented growth, instead of the current jobless growth.''

There was nothing wrong in these parties joining hands in some States, while they might have to contest against each other in three others.

If two alliances were formed — one with the Congress and the other with the Bharatiya Janata Party at the helm at the national level and one with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the other with the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, ``I welcome it because it is healthy for the democracy. And whoever forms the Government at the Centre will definitely have a full term.''

All that the people should look for (when alliances are formed) was whether the coalition Government would be stable and whether it could provide some programmes. ``Was it possible to provide a stable government in the divided polity?''

Mr. Chidambaram pointed out that it took virtually two centuries for England to have a two-party system. ``In India, it would definitely take some more time.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Sanction for prosecution not valid, says judge
• PMK to contest from six constituencies
• Pondicherry PMK elated, disbelief in Congress
• Oil firms may also derive mileage from elections
• Srirangam fire leaves kin of victims devastated
• Coalition politics is not opportunism, says Chidambaram
• SC refuses to cancel bail for Nedumaran in book case
• `Complaint redress mechanism must for improving police image'
• Governor, CM express grief; relief announced
• Mass retrenchment, a poll issue: CPI(M)
• Shanmugham sworn in
• Assembly session from February 4
• Briefly

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu