Gujral dithers as UF clamours for steering committee meeting

''The United Front steering committee meeting must be held soon to discuss sensitive issues which have a direct bearing on the Gujral government's survival.''

As more and more senior UF leaders make that demand, Prime Minister I K Gujral appears to be dithering due to the problems -- retaining Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav's aides in his ministry, accommodating the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the UF and the petroleum price hike -- facing his government.

Though Gujral has said that there are no differences between him and the Left constituents of the UF, the CPI-M and the CPI have threatened to withdraw their support if the three ministers are retained. Even top JD leaders like H D Deve Gowda and Sharad Yadav are against the RJD joining the UF.

JD workers close to Sharad Yadav say that Gujral was rattled by the Left's statement that although Laloo Yadav is a mass leader his political base is apparently corrupt. ''This is unacceptable,'' the Left said.

The Sharad Yadav-Deve Gowda faction of the JD has echoed similar views. If Gujral is serious about what he said at Badaun -- that the corrupt ought to resign -- Laloo Yadav's aides must be dropped from the ministry, said the faction leaders, insisting that the steering committee meeting must be held on July 17.