M A I N   N E W S

Sonia to woo Shekhar, V.P. Singh
Anita Katyal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 24
Besides reaching out to political parties and small groups opposed to the NDA, Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also expected to seek the support of senior leaders like V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar in her ongoing efforts to forge an alternative secular alliance.

Her party colleagues, it is learnt, have been in touch with the former Prime Ministers and a meeting could materialise shortly. Congress leaders maintained that getting these leaders on board will lend credibility to the alternative alliance and give it a distinct advantage in Uttar Pradesh.

“Both these leaders enjoy a certain standing in the country, especially Uttar Pradesh. If they openly support the proposed non-NDA alliance, it would go a long way in silencing the Congress party’s critics,” said a senior Congress leader.

At the same time, the Congress has been pursuing an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). But Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh’s 90-minute meeting with Ms Gandhi late on Friday night has added a fresh dimension to the alliance-making process in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party has, so far maintained that it will go it alone in the coming Lok Sabha elections. It is also miffed over the Congress party’s moves to align with its arch rival, Mayawati.

Congress insiders believe the SP’s sudden change of heart towards them is prompted by Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) leader Kalyan Singh’s impending defection to the BJP. The departure of RKP’s four legislators will not only weaken the Mulayam Singh Yadav government numerically but will also pitchfork another OBC leader into the electoral fray. At the same time, Congress also sees Mr. Singh’s meeting as a strategic move by the SP to sabotage its proposed tie-up with the BSP.

The Congress remains extremely sceptical about Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav’s motives. It believes that despite these friendly overtures, Mr. Yadav may still end up having seat adjustments with the BJP since he formed his government with the BJP’s tacit support.

“Basically, BJP’s and Samajwadi Party’s main objective is to keep the Congress out,” explained a UP Congress leader, adding that if Mr. Yadav is seriously opposed to the NDA, why is he hesitant to join the alternative secular alliance. Mr. Yadav, according to him, wants to keep his options open till after the polls.

Although the Congress realises that Mr. Yadav is an undependable partner, it is in no position to withdraw its support to his government as its alliance with the BSP is yet to materialise. To that extent, the Congress, too, is keeping its options open though the overwhelming view in the party is that the BSP would be a far more beneficial partner.

Although there is no official word from the BSP, the Congress is optimistic about this partnership working out, especially since it was the BSP which took the initiative in contacting them after the fall of the Mayawati government.