UF's tough stand sends Congress scurrying for cover
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi and Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay
The tough stand taken by the ruling United Front has shocked the Congress, sinking its leadership into a bout of desperation.
The Front upstaged the Congress effortlessly, and the latter was clueless about its future strategy.
Gone were the threats that the government would be out in no time if the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham was not shown the door immediately. Gone was the bravado that the party would face an election rather than support an alliance which supports those indicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Instead of calling the shots -- as envisaged in its strategy -- the Congress is now at the receiving end of a volley of threats fired by the UF. It is now desperately trying to convince the Front about the grave repercussions -- bringing the Bharatiya Janata Party to power -- its tough stand would have.
The fact that Gujral did not set any time-frame for handing over the UF's reply to Kesri added to the Congress woes.
With the UF core committee sending clear signals that it was gearing up to tear the Congress apart in Parliament by ensuring a debate on the Jain Commission report, the Congress knows its strategy has backfired.
Besides, the UF has already threatened that it would rake up the Bofors issue and the Justice Thakkar Commission report on the Indira Gandhi assassination, which is said to have indicted Congress general secretary R K Dhawan. Congress leaders are also known to be sensitive about the Bofors controversy.
The Congress prayed for the DMK's quiet exit, avoiding a debate in Parliament which would see the party at the receiving end.
That the UF had smartly turned the tables on the Congress, and the latter's leaders were scurrying for cover became quite apparent from the response of several stalwarts.
Just a couple of hours after Congress Working Committe member Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy asserted that the Congress would take a prompt decision as soon as it gets the UF's reply -- to Kesri's letter -- he refused to make any comments till Sunday.
Senior party leaders are still apprehensive about withdrawing support to the government. One senior Congress leader said, "Many Congress MPs are not willing to go to the polls. There are still hopes for reconciliation."
Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar, however, said the party would call a CWC meeting on receiving the UF reply. He said the CWC would immediately take a decision on the UF government's fate.
Senior leader A R Antulay expressed similar views. "Though everyone is unsure about what will happen in the coming days, I feel the Congress will withdraw support as soon as they receive the letter."
Dissident Congress leader Rajesh Pilot said, "Since the Congress has taken a vocal public stand on the DMK, they will have to withdraw support. There is no other alternative."
After a debate in Parliament on Tuesday, the UF expects an early election after Gujral steps down.
Despite the Congress eating humble pie, the UF is in no better shape. While the Congress banks on the Jain Commission report, the Front is still groping for an election issue. The UF seemed to be in a ''fatalistic mood'' despite its leaders's brave words.
EARLIER REPORTS:
Only a miracle will save Gujral
Tamil Congressmen sling mud at each other over Jain report
'How can Congress support Rajiv's killers?' says CPP secretary Prithviraj Chavan
Jain Commission fallout: Political equations get even more complex in Tamil Nadu
We are not going to own up responsibilty for a crime which we had not committed: Karunanidhi
The main observations of the Jain Commission interim report
Action taken report on Jain findings short on action
Militant Congress MPs may seal Gujral's fate
UF softening stand on DMK
JPC to bail out Gujral
Reprieve for Gujral
UF parties warn Gujral against dumping DMK
Gujral may face serious trouble: Sonia aides
Congress calls MPs's meet on Jain panel
Gupta takes Congress to task
Kesri's ultimatum shocks UF
UF buys time with denial
Naidu-Moopanar-Karunanidhi meet spurs speculation
UF sits on 'time-bomb'
Govt will ask Jain panel to provide evidence
Jain report will have serious implications: Congress
Jain panel interim report indicts Karunanidhi, V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar
EARLIER INTERVIEWS:
The leaked report does not feature my testimony before the Jain panel, but before another court: R Nagarajan
No action will follow the Jain Commission report: Aladi Aruna
Tell us what you think of this report
|
