JOIN USRegional satraps offer support to UPA govt
While all these parties sent their letters of “unconditional” support, allies such as Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee descended on the capital to participate in the meeting of the UPA leaders to be held on Wednesday. After the UPA meeting, Singh, accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, will meet President Pratibha Patil to formally stake claim to form the new government. The swearing in of the new ministry is expected to take place on May 22.
The Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) formaly re-elected Manmohan Singh as its leader on Tuesday. At the hour-long CPP meeting, Sonia named 76-year-old Singh as the CPP leader to lead the government.
The Congress chief’s choice was unanimously approved by the members amid thumping of desks.
The meeting also re-elected Sonia as CPP chairperson. Singh, who said the verdict was for inclusive growth, assured the members that he would strive at improving governance. He indicated that the new government woud not function with a “business-as-usual”
attitude.
Soon after the CPP meeting, the Congress top brass was back at work on ministry-formation. Senior leaders Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony and Ahmed Patel involved themselves in the exercise, assisting Sonia and Singh.
‘No decision’
The evening saw Karunanidhi, accompanied by son Azhagiri and grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran, greeting Sonia on the UPA victory and holding discussions. Later the DMK patriarch, who is reported to have given his “wish list of seven ministries” to Sonia, refused to discuss the matter with reporters.
While the regional satraps have pledged support, Congress sources said no decision has been taken regarding acceptance of their offer.
If the UPA does take the support of the SP (23), BSP (20), RJD (4) and the JD (3), the tally will easily cross the 300 mark in the 15th Lok Sabha.
At present, the UPA count stands at 262, 10 short of majority mark of 272.
All these parties have sent in their letters of support – JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy met Sonia in the evening and handed in the letter. Of these parties, the RJD and the JD(S) have shown keenness to be part of the government. The Congress, however, is not prepared to warm up to any of the parties – who fought against it in the LS polls – joining the government. Congress workers even held a demonstration in this regard at the AICC office on Tuesday evening.
There was some talk during the day that since the UPA would be 29 short of the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha, the SP and the RJD should be included in the Council of Ministers.
However, this argument did not find favour with the decision-makers in the Congress, which has 206 MPs in the LS. The halfway mark in the Upper House is 126 and the UPA has only 97 MPs. But now that there is support from several quarters, the need for inducting these parties in the ministry did not arise.
DH News Service