Monday, September 7, 1998
Congress ready for coalition
In time-tested Congress tradition, the party yesterday reopened a host of issues and took crucial policy positions on others at the end of the three-day brainstorming session in Pachmarhi. The most tantalising line was on coalition politics, with the Pachmarhi Declaration laying a different emphasis and Congress President Sonia Gandhi shifting it ever-so-vitally in her concluding address.
Vajpayee, Advani to "teach Jaya a lesson" by attending MDMK rally
The top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is driving home a bitter message to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J Jayalalitha: they will attend her rival Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko's rally in Chennai on September 15, and ignore hers, in Tiruchy the same day, completely.
Pawar remains in Sonia's shadow
Now that the dust is settling over Pachmarhi, following the exit of nearly 1,000 cars ferrying top Congress brains in the country, it is time to take stock of who won and who lost in what was a path-breaking exercise in the party. Several spats, opinions and silences later, it is clear that the three days achieved one thing without doubt: Sonia Gandhi is in firm charge and any attempt to undo her from the party president's post will be full of hurdles.
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