KANNUR, June 15: Former Karnataka chief minister and leader of Lok Sakthi Ramakrishna Hegde has said that the Congress should not topple the United Front Government at the Centre as it would affect the economic growth of the nation.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Kannur Press Club here yesterday, Hegde said that there was no point in pulling down any government.

``There are people who argue that this Government has no right to continue as it is not controlled by a single party with popular support. We should, however, remember that toppling a government is an easy job, put this would badly affect the economic growth and political stability of the nation,'' he said while ruling out the possibility of a mid-term poll.

Hegde, who had come here to inaugurate the merger meeting of the Indian Socialist Party led by former Union minister Arangil Sreedharan, said that like-minded political parties should unite, as single party dominance was over in the country.

The recent election has proved beyond doubt that the electorate has no more trust in single party dominance. Political parties should learn their lessons from the last general elections, he said.

To a query, Hegde said that he had not formed the Lok Sakthi to topple any government. The motive behind the floating of his party was to evolve a new political culture, he added. Calling up on the people to prepare themselves for a new freedom struggle, Hegde said though the nation attained political freedom 50 years ago it was yet to gain economic and social freedom. Only a stable government led by a committed leadership could ensure this, he said.

Taking a dig at former prime minister Deve Gowda, he said that the poor peasant from Karnataka was now promoting himself for the post of the President of the nation. He had pressurised the Karnataka Cabinet to pass a resolution demanding the whole nation to make him the President.

``My strong opinion is that this former prime minister is playing the same political gimmicks he was engaging in earlier. He, however, lacks the common sense to understand that he had to quit as the prime minister just because the parties supporting his government could not agree with him. How can he then muster the support of all parties to become the President?'' Hegde asked.

The Lok Sakthi leader said that his primary duty was to strengthen the party he has just formed. He would not think of making coalitions until this mission was over.

``Let the elections come. We will think of coalitions then,'' Hegde said, adding that Lok Sakthi will have understanding with parties having the same political ideology.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.