NEW DELHI, March 13: The nation may have to endure the agony of antics of political parties for few more days as the formation of the next government at the Centre is likely to be delayed with Congress and United Front having sought time from President K R Narayanan to explore the possibility of an alternative government. This follows the failure of the Bharatiya Janata Party to muster enough support.``We need time to hold consultations with friendly parties since UF was under the impression till last night that the BJP will form the government,'' CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet told newsperson's after a 30-minute meeting with Narayanan. The Congress delegation led by its president Sitaram Kesri also sought time saying that they have to elect their parliamentary party leader on Monday. Narayanan had a series of meetings during the day with leaders of Congress and the United Front. Former prime ministers Vishwanath Pratap Singh and H D Deve Gowda also called on him. The president willcontinue his consultations with leaders of various regional parties tomorrow.
The Congress leaders including Sharad Pawar and Madhavrao Scindia called on Sonia Gandhi immediately after their meeting with the president to formulate the party's strategy on government formation.
The UF's steering committee is meeting here on Monday to discuss the emerging political situation in the context of its convenor N Chandrababu Naidu's continued opposition to the front supporting a Congress-led government. Surjeet said that neither the UF nor the Congress are in a position to stake the claim to form the government unless both the combinations form an alliance or reach an understanding.
Surjeet, who was accompanied by CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, said the Congress leaders had not consulted ``us'' on the government formation. Asked whether the UF will hold discussions with the Congress, Surjeet said ``why should we. Let them come to us to tell what they want.'' Surjeet said after holding talks with theCongress leaders ``we can come with some suggestions.''
Asked whether the president would give them some time, he said ``I hope he will give some time. There is no difficulty.'' Stating that they received invitation from the president for consultation yesterday evening, he said.
Situation has radically changed since yesterday, he said. He said some changes were taking place in the Congress too. Earlier, the Congress delegation, led by Kesri also conveyed to the president that it would consult its allies and friendly parties on forming the government. Kesri made it clear that the congress would stake the claim only when ``we have the strength.''
Kesri said his party would certainly hold discussions with the UF leaders on the issue of forming the government. Asked if he had hopes of forming the government Kesri remarked ``otherwise why would we be here'' (Rashtrapathi Bhavan). Answering a question whether he had the support of AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha the Congress president said the party wasascertaining her views because it could not be done through media reports.
Asked about the party's stand if the president invited BJP to form the government without waiting for the Congress to elect its leader, Pawar who accompanied Kesri said ``if BJP has got the numbers, we have no objection.''The Congress president said there was every possibility of the UF supporting the Congress, which would form the government.
Another senior Congress leader, K Karunakaran, said if the UF stayed together and supported Congress in forming a government, the party would welcome it and seriously consider staking claim.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
