NEW DELHI, MARCH 16: From maintaining a sphinx-like attitude towards one and all, Sonia Gandhi is now showing signs of a thaw in public. Today, after she took the second step towards full control of the Congress by being elected Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson, Sonia spoke to mediapersons at two spots in Parliament.One was outside Central Hall and the other outside the CPP office. Both were predictably chaotic but put together, this is probably the closest she has got towards some sort of an interview. She clearly indicates that the Congress organisational set-up will be radically changed and that the Congress could support some of the BJP's policies which are ``people-friendly''. Here are her answers to some posers:
How long do you think the BJP-led government will last?
That is difficult to say.
The full term of five years?
I cannot say.
Will you be contesting for the Lok Sabha now that you have become the CPP chairperson?
I don'tknow.
Alternatively, are you contemplating a term in the Rajya Sabha?
Not in the near future.
What transpired in your meeting with President K R Narayanan?
I told him that the position remained the same as was conveyed by Sitaram Kesriji. The Congress didn't have the numbers to stake a claim but some of our leaders were in touch with the United Front leaders. I told him that we would get back to him on March 17th. But he then told me that he was informed by Dr Jayalalitha that she was supporting a BJP-led government. In that situation, he has no option but to invite the BJP.
You have referred to a restructuring of the party set-up. What did you mean by that?
Well...I think we will be seeing a lot of new faces.
You have said the Congress will be a responsible Opposition party. What exactly do you mean by that?
When I say responsible Opposition, I mean that we will not oppose any programme (of the government) which we consider is in the interest of the country andthe people. But we will bitterly oppose any programme which we feel is not in interest of the country and its people.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
