JOIN USCong hopes to rope in more allies
Apparently buoyed by the JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s meeting with Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, the party said was a clear indication of “what is in store in the next few days.”
AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh said: “The meeting underlines the direction towards which politics is moving ahead of the results”. He added: “The Third Front is vulnerable. Already some of its constituents have joined the NDA. There is inconsistency within the Third Front.”
On the SP’s demand for the dismissal of the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh as a price of its support to a Congress-led government at the Centre, Singh said: “The question does not arise. How can we dismiss a constitutionally elected state government?” said Singh.
He hinted the Congress was open to having an alliance with the BSP. He said the party was ready to explore options of having alliances with all secular parties.
The day also saw Sonia speaking over phone to LJP leader Ramvilas Paswan, apparently to enquire about a fire that broke about at the latter’s house. Meanwhile, scotching speculation that he may tie-up with the UPA, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said he would remain in the NDA.
Even as AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha said in Chennai that she would visit Delhi if her combine performed well in the elections, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Third Front, “including the BSP”, would meet in Delhi on Monday to discuss the possibility of forming a secular government.
The Communist parties have decided to meet on Saturday evening, the day election results would be announced. The CPM politburo willl also hold a meeting on Monday. The Central Committee of the CPM will meet the next day.
The CPI National Executive will meet on May 19 followed by a three-day session of its National Council. The decision-making bodies of the Forward Bloc and RSP would also be meeting on the same day.