NEW DELHI, March 3: With the BJP and allies falling short of a clear majority in the 12th Lok Sabha, a no-holds-barred battle is in the offing between the Saffron-led forces and the Congress-UF combine for the formation of the next government.An indication to this effect was available from both the BJP and the Congress on Tuesday, when they spoke of staking a claim to form the next government.
BJP leaders, including party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj, vice-president Madan Lal Khurana and others stressed that as the largest single group they had to be invited first to form the government.
In any case, they added, they would have no difficulty in obtaining the support of a few more MPs to make up a majority. An assertive, but not quite victorious Congress party, on the other hand, claimed that the mandate had not gone in favour of the BJP and its allies as the non-BJP forces together accounted for a larger strength in the new Lok Sabha going by available results and trends so far.
Sharad Pawar, theMaratha strongman who led the Congress to an astounding win in Maharashtra, has said that his party is exploring all possibilities of forming a secular government at the centre. His efforts are likely to centre around weaning away the Trinamool Congress and the AIADMK of J. Jayalalitha, which together have 25 seats.
The Congress is targeting the BJP's allies because not all UF members appear to be very enthusiastic about joining a Congress government after their recent acrimonious parting. While the Left has softened its stand on the Congress, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu appears to be softening his opposition to the BJP. The DMK is also not happy with the idea since the Congress had brought down the UF government on the issue of DMK's alleged links with Raji Gandhi's killers.
Assuming its pre-poll allies stay together, the BJP appears to be slightly ahead in the numbers game. With its own seat total (along with allies) hovering around the 250 mark, the party says it is sure of roping in an additional20-and-odd MPs from among the independents and smaller parties to reach the magic 272 figure. Haryana Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chauthala has already extended the support of his four MPs to the BJP front. So has Gegong Apang of the Arunachal Congress, which won two seats in the new Lok Sabha.
Buta Singh and Maneka Gandhi (both Independents) are also said to have offered to ally with the BJP. "There will be enough later ", said a BJP sympathiser confidently.
The Congress strategy, on the other hand, revolves around bringing around the TDP of Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress (TC) to supporting the party's drive to head the next government. Mamata Banerjee's TC, currently reckoned to be a part of the BJP front, is considered critical for the Congress effort in view of the possibility of the DMK refusing to play ball.
The CPI(M) is concentrating its efforts on keeping the TDP in line since Chandrababu Naidu appears vulnerable to the BJP's charm. Having just fought a bitter electoralbattle in Andhra Pradesh with the Congress, Naidu may find it more convenient to return the BJP's overtures--or at least support it from the outside. CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet is in touch with Naidu just to prevent just such an eventuality. He spoke to Naidu at length on Tuesday.
Briefing newspersons at the party's headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, Congress general secretary and spokesperson Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed that the UF partners were ready to team up with the Congress. He hinted in no uncertain terms that the combine's constituent parties had started discussions among themselves to see that the BJP and allies did not form the new government.
Azad, however, refused to disclose which UF leaders his party was in touch with. "I cannot disclose everything at this stage. You would come to know in time", he said.
All attention will shortly shift to Rashtrapati Bhavan with a debate raging on both sides as to who should be called first to form the government. The BJP stalwartsare sure that the President will follow recent precedents and invite the largest single combine, which had formed a pre-poll alliance, to form the government.
The Congress leaders, including senior leader Pranab Mukherjee, however, say that the President would have to first satisfy himself that the BJP and its allies did in fact have a majority before inviting them to form a government. Like his other colleagues, Mukherjee too hinted that the BJP and its allies would not be able to muster the magic figure of 272 in the new Lok Sabha.
The Congress party has convened a meeting of the party's highest decision-making forum, the CWC, in Delhi on March 5 to discuss the issue threadbare. By that time, some behind-the-scenes discussions with UF partners and others is expected to have been completed.
The DMK is also considered problematic for the Congress, given the imbroglio over the Jain Commission report recently. The Congress, however, appears to be willing to accommodate the DMK and make amends.
A formalmeeting of the BJP and its allies will be held on Wednesday. The allies appear to be more enthusiastic about roping in independents and others, who are expected to be roughly in the region of 20. Asked how the BJP was going to find more MPs to add up to the requisite tally, Chauthala said: "There is no problem. We will find them for the BJP.
Pawar play
Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar, who is back centrestage with the resounding victory of the Congress in Maharashtra, is leaving no stone unturned to see his party form the next government at the centre.
Pawar is said to be wooing both Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee, who together hold 25 seats, to the Congress fold.
It is learnt that Pawar, who has gone to his home constituency Baramati to attend a victory rally, will hold telephonic parleys with Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee. Should the conversation be favourable, Pawar may fly to Chennai on Wednesday.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
