M A I N   N E W S

Sonia keeps suspense on PM issue
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 13
Congress President Sonia Gandhi today indicated that she was very much a prime ministerial candidate.

Speaking to presspersons after a CWC meeting this evening, Mrs Gandhi maintained that the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) would be the claimant for the Prime Minister’s post.

“That is the practice.... normally that’s what happens,” she replied when asked if the CPP leader would stake claim for the Prime Minister’s job.

However, when asked specifically whether she was an aspirant for the post, she merely replied, “Leader of the Congress party will be elected by the elected members of Parliament.” She also underlined the fact that the alternative government would be led by the Congress.

Although it could well be argued that Mrs Gandhi never really stated that she would necessarily be the next CPP leader but that was only an academic argument. Mrs Gandhi’s election as the CPP leader on May 15 was, however, only a formality.

There was near unanimity among Congressmen that the party’s vastly improved performance was a clear mandate for Mrs Gandhi’s leadership. The party had repeatedly maintained that Mrs Gandhi was their “undisputed leader” who had been authorised by the party to take all necessary steps for the formation of an alternative secular government.

This sentiment was reflected in a unanimous resolution adopted at the CWC meeting. It thanked Mrs Gandhi for all her hard work which had brought the party to position of forming a government.

Mrs Gandhi also told presspersons that over the next two days the process of government formation would gather momentum, adding that the Congress would take the lead in forming a secular government. The Congress president said she would first be meeting the alliance partners of the Congress but added that “We are open to working with all like-minded parties.” Asked if the allies, like the Left parties, would join the government, Mrs Gandhi maintained all these issues would be taken up during their discussions.

In reply to a specific query, Mrs Gandhi said the new government would continue the Vajpayee government’s initiative on relations with Pakistan. “We had always supported Mr Vajpayee’s Pakistan policy. In fact, we always maintained that a dialogue must continue,” she said, adding that there was no question of “not following Mr Vajpayee’s Pakistan initiative.”

Celebrations at Cong HQ
Anita Katyal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 13
The contrast could not have been more stark. When the Congress was routed in three Assembly elections nearly six months ago, the AICC headquarters on Akbar Road had worn a funeral look. The office was then deserted and all its senior leaders had virtually gone underground.

It was a different scene today. As the Lok Sabha results trickled in and the Congress tally kept mounting, the pace of celebrations also picked up. The roll of drums got louder by the minute as jubilant slogan-shouting supporters thronged Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s residence. Firecrackers were burst intermittently, while the air was rent with slogans like, “Desh ki pradhan mantri kaisi ho, Sonia Gandhi jaisi ho.” A giant hand-shaped air balloon came up on the office lawns to publicly announce the party’s improved performance.

Ms Gandhi spent the day meeting the stream of visitors who dropped in to congratulate her on the party’s tremendous performance. Congress leaders, who called on her, maintained she was naturally pleased with the results but remained fairly composed. BSP leaders called up to congratulate her while Mrs Gandhi was in touch with the party’s alliance partners.

There was frenzied activity next door at the Congress office as ecstatic party leaders accepted congratulatory messages. AICC leader Ambika Soni’s room was virtually taken over by mediapersons as laddoos were passed around. Mrs Soni was busy conferring with her colleagues Ahmed Patel and others as preparations got under way for the evening’s CWC meeting.

Steps were also initiated for the formation of an alternative secular government. As a first step, of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting has been slated for tomorrow which will go through the formality of electing Ms Sonia Gandhi as its leader.

This is to be followed by a formal meeting with leaders of the alliance partners on Saturday. The effort will be to persuade all allies, including the Left parties, to join the government instead of lending outside support. At the same time, the Congress President asked senior leaders to look at the manifestos of its allies and draw up a common minimum programme.

“The message of this election is quite clear ... people have voted for a change,” Mrs Soni told mediapersons. Although there were some disappointments from states like Kerala, Karnataka and Punjab, where the party had expected to do much better, this performance was more than made by its improved tally in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

Mrs Soni maintained that they paid the price for the infighting in its state party unit in Kerala. She admitted that the Punjab results were a disappointment but refused to go beyond that.

As for Karnataka, she hoped that they would be able to form a secular government in the state despite the fractured mandate.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y.S.Rajshekhar Reddy, now being hailed as the party’s new poster boy, received a specially warm welcome when he walked into the AICC office. He said he alone would be taking oath tomorrow.