NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Armed with an assurance from Sonia Gandhi that she would campaign for the Congress if need be, a jubilant Sitaram Kesri has hardened his position on the Jain Commission findings. Those who met him soon after his 45-minute meeting with Sonia yesterday reveal that Kesri had never been so cheerful.

A mini-meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has been in session at his residence since last night and members feel that that there could be no compromise on the Action Taken Report (ATR) on findings, whatever be the consequences.

He terminated the informal discussion with the CWC members this afternoon to hold a detailed discussion with Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on the ATR. If the United Front (UF) Government is not willing to drop the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), it would be difficult to avert a crisis. Kesri went into a huddle with the senior leaders tonight after his meeting with the Prime Minister.

But Kesri refused to say anything. All he would tell The Indian Express is, ``I am not worried. I am busy analysing.''

He is more cautious this time. He would like Sonia to set the agenda for the party. He sought an appointment with her in order to get a clear direction in the event of the country being pushed into another general election.

Kesri is aware that it is a battle between 10 Janpath and VP Singh. So he let 10 Janpath decide the course. He has made it clear to Sonia that he cannot campaign vigorously at 82.

If Sonia can address five rallies in 6 years after the assassination of her husband to seek ``justice'', she should be ready to address more rallies as an ``active member'' of the Congress Party now to take the battle to a logical conclusion. And she is not apolitical now technically.

He knows that he had narrowly missed the bus last April after the fall of HD Deve Gowda because his partymen were not sure of his plans. Kesri had no emotive issue then to take the party to the polls and there were no formidable allies to back him.

Seven months later, he has all the ingredients to wage a war. The Jain Commission's interim report has provided the much-needed ammunition. More than Kesri, his partymen are vociferous today in demanding the ouster of the DMK from the Gujral Government. Even those who hold different views, including Sharad Pawar, may be left with no option but to fall in line. Perhaps, they see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The sudden light has made the partymen gradually harden stance and the Congress may not remain contended with the DMK's scalp alone. If the interim report of the commission which deals with the sequence of events leading to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, can cause such a havoc, the final report to be submitted in February next may prove to be a final nail in the UF's coffin.

Kesri is not banking on the emotive issue alone. He has won formidable allies during seven months in wilderness.

The BJP-BSP break in UP has come as a God-send opportunity and he hopes to do what VP Singh did in 1989. During the 1989 general elections the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported Singh.

Kesri is confident that he alone can bring the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) together. The Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party (BKKP) of Ajit Singh is not averse to a tie-up either.

In Bihar, Kesri has tied the nuptial knot with Laloo Prasad Yadav. After the initial setback in UP, he has re-established his supremacy in the party by getting what he wanted in Gujarat. A senior CWC member close to him said,``After Gujarat, it has to be Gujral now.'' Left to himself Kesri may not like to be a striking bowler. He loves playing the googly i.e. forming Government without a poll.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.