NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Continuing the battle of nerves with the Congress, a hurriedly-convened Core Committee meeting of the United Front late tonight reiterated its decision not to give in to Congress demand for the ouster of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ministers and to leave it to Prime Minister I K Gujral to send a formal communication to Congress president Sitaram Kesri at an ``appropriate time''.

The UF is likely to send its formal response tomorrow and indications tonight were that it may prefer bowing out in Parliament to dissolution of the House. ``After that we will wait for the Congress to make the next move. For any situation that will develop after that the Congress will be responsible,'' they said. Sources in the UF said that after Gujral's letter the ball would be in the Congress court.

The UF's core committee which met late tonight discussed the pros and cons ofthe two options before the coalition - dissolution of the Lok Sabha or being voted out on the floor of the House. According to sources, most of the leaders were veering round to the view that the second was a much better option.

Before the core committee met, the CPI(M) and the CPI had taken the position that it would be better for the UF to go in for dissolution of the House so that the BJP could not take undue advantage of the situation. But it was apparent after the meeting that this view did not meet with full approval from all the constituents.

At the meeting, UF convenor N Chandrababu Naidu is said to have advocated going down fighting on the floor of the House. His view was that the Congress was after all responsible for the mess that had been created and if they withdrew support now it would have to take the blame for the consequences that followed.

After the meeting, UF spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said that the Prime Minister would reply to Congress President Sitaram Kesri ``at an appropriate time.'' He also said that no final view was taken at the meeting on the question of dissolution of the House though some constituents proposed it.

Earlier in the day, the idea of dissolving the Lok Sabha and avoiding a debate on the Jain Commission report in Parliament had gained ground with the Left parties formally mooting the proposal.

The Left parties were said to have the backing of the Samajwadi Party as well as the Tamil Maanila Congress. Their perception was that any debate in Parliament, far from serving any purpose, would actually serve the BJP's interests.

``It would be ridiculous for the Congress and the UF to trade charges in Parliament when they may have to join hands again to keep the BJP out,'' said a Left Front leader. There was also the ``outside chance'' of the BJP having a go at Government formation if the UF did not opt for dissolution, he pointed out.

At their politburo and national executive meetings, respectively, the CPI(M) and the CPI decided to take a stand in favour of dissolution as there was no scope for any patchup with the Congress. CPI leader A B Bardhan said ``The Left parties want to avoid horse-trading.'' And the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said: ``There is no chance of any understanding now or succumbing to the Congress demand. That leaves us with no alternative but to go in for elections.''

The response of the Congress to the fast-changing situation in the UF could not be ascertained at the end of the day. Kesri held a four-hour-long meeting in Parliament's Central Hall of senior MPs preparing a strategy in Parliament. Among those present were Pranab Mukherjee, Jitendra Prasada, Sharad Pawar and Mrutyunjay Nayak. This meeting left some space for some solution to the crisis in the last hour. No one was sure of what this will be as the UF is firm on not dumping the DMK.

The Congress too is not in a position to back out now after pushing the issue this far. Yet, a small section was still optimistic. ``Anything is possible in politics. The least expected eventuality can take place,'' said a Lok Sabha CWC member who didn't want to be named. Added AICC general secretary and CWC member Oscar Fernandes: ``A solution is still possible. otherwise why should the UF delay its response so much.''

The CPP executive is slated to meet before Parliament convenes tomorrow.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.