The Hindu : Front Page : Congress to go it alone in Bihar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 14, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Congress to go it alone in Bihar

By K.V. Prasad &
Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI, JAN. 13. The Congress unhinged itself from the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar today by deciding to contest 80 of the 243 seats in the Assembly elections. But there is a tacit agreement that the allies and the supporting parties in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would refrain from pitching their candidates against one another in the seats they hold in the outgoing Assembly.

The seat-sharing talks between the UPA allies and the supporting Left parties broke down as both the RJD and the Congress stuck to their position. That the Congress had made up its mind to go ahead and test its strength on the ground became clear by late afternoon.

It was confirmed when the decision was conveyed to the Left parties which have decided to rally behind the RJD.

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, met the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member, Sitaram Yechury, this evening and communicated the party's decision to go ahead with its plans. The meeting was preceded by hectic rounds of consultations within the Congress top leadership that has already been under pressure from the State unit to carve out an independent approach. As a measure of its new-found approach, the Congress election committee that met this evening is understood to have cleared 22 names for the Assembly seats at its first meeting.

The Congress is understood to have told its UPA allies and supporting parties that while the electoral battle in Bihar is an open turf, the situation at the Centre remains unperturbed. The assertion assumes significance in view of the fact that the Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan has already snapped its ties with the RJD.

Mr. Paswan, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, has been told that the Congress is likely to leave five to six seats for his party that would not be contested by the allies, top Congress sources told The Hindu .

The Congress plan is to ascertain its strength in Bihar and, at the same time, not to ruffle the feathers in the UPA nest. The broad agreement that appears to have emerged is that out of the 243 seats 131 are undisputable, while it would be ``free for all'' for the rest of the 112 seats.

RJD unperturbed

The RJD, however, did not appear perturbed over the Congress decision. Senior leaders told The Hindu that the party was not averse to the idea of some ``friendly" contests with the Congress. "It will actually work to the advantage of both parties," said a RJD Minister.

The RJD believes that the Congress, given its support base, will put up mostly upper caste candidates, thereby dividing the votes that would invariably go to its rivals.

"Most of their candidates are likely to be Bhumihars and Brahmins and this is a vote-bank that usually votes against us. If they contest it will cut into the Opposition parties' votes and work to our advantage," said a RJD leader.

The RJD leadership also believes that the minorities are unlikely to drift to the Congress, as their main aim is to keep out the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (United)

``They feel totally secure with the RJD and will vote for the party that is best placed to keep the BJP out,'' said the RJD Minister, adding that``all of us are committed to the UPA. We are together on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme and the situation in Bihar will not have any impact on the Central Government.''

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

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Congress to go it alone in Bihar

Government doctors off downsizing order

Police withdraw summons after Acharya's objection

Bank accounts frozen, Kanchi Mutt in a quandary

Compensation planned for retrenched workers

Workers to get salaries

Charges framed in Bilkis case

BSNL, MTNL to launch broadband services

Smashing a hole in comet

TCS profit

Contributions to The Hindu Relief Fund