The Hindu : Front Page : No sacrifice big enough to form secular government: Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

No sacrifice big enough to form secular government: Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 12. The Congress today indicated that "no sacrifice was big enough" to enable the formation of a government comprising parties that fought on the anti-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) platform, separately or in alliance. It was a clear hint that the "leadership issue" will not be allowed to thwart the formation of a secular government.

As the Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, became the focal point of confabulations among the secular parties, two issues were clarified — there are no takers for the so-called `third front' idea, and most party chiefs are willing to sit together to settle the leadership issue amicably.

Significantly, the Congress indicated that "its doors will be open" to those leaving the NDA, provided they agreed on a common minimum programme to be drafted by the secular alliance. Also, party sources said that the Congress-led alliance would be inclined to stake its claim to form a government immediately if its numbers, along with those of the Left, exceeded those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA. The issue of other parties joining the alliance could come later.

The reported statement of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M. Karunanidhi, in Chennai that he personally preferred the DMK remaining outside the government was a dampener on the Congress. It was tight-lipped on the development. However, there was satisfaction that the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, had come out openly in support of not only the alliance, but also the candidature of Sonia Gandhi for prime ministership.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav's categorical statement that he would not support the NDA, describing suggestions to the contrary as a "personal insult," was seen as a positive development. While ruling himself out of the race for prime ministership, Mr. Yadav was ambivalent on support for Ms. Gandhi's candidature. "This is a question that will be decided once the results are declared. All the secular parties will sit together and decide on this," he said.

The Congress also noted that the Nationalist Congress Party leader, Sharad Pawar, had made an unambiguous statement about remaining with the secular alliance.

Mr. Surjeet told presspersons that the priorities for the secular parties were to form a coalition government and decide on the modalities for running a strong and stable government in the event of their being able to muster the required numbers to stake a credible claim. No party had taken a tough line on the leadership issue.

There was hectic activity throughout the day with several leaders of the secular parties meeting one another. The former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, met Ms. Gandhi after calling on another former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh. Emerging from the meeting with Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Chandra Shekhar said he had "no problem with Ms. Gandhi's leadership" and "by virtue of being the largest party, the Congress should lead the secular front."

Mr. Surjeet's residence was another important meeting point. The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, the Congress spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy, the Communist Party of India general secretary, A.B. Bardhan, and Mr. Mulayam Singh met the CPI(M) leader and exchanged views on the political situation.

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