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Sonia declines to become party president: Chances of national government bleak

Congress plunges into deep leadership crisis

By Reazuddin Ahmed
Sonia Gandhi has declined to become the president of Congressfl) landing the party into a deep crisis. The Congress high command hurriedly chose Rajiv's widow as the party's president on Wednesday to avoid leadership vacuum in the party at this critical juncture and catch sympathy votes In next month's Lok Sabha elections.
■ Sonia on Thursday refused the Congress offer saying the tragedy that had befallen her and her children did not make it possible for her to accept the post
Some of the political commentators in New Delhi, when contacted over telephone from Dhaka on Thursday, predicted a difficult time for Congress (1) in choosing a leader of all India stature and acceptable to the party cadres They named PV Narashima Rao. Pronab Mukh arjee. Sarod Pawar and ND Tewari as the possible successors of Rajiv. None is avail able at the moment from Nehru dynasty to lead the Congress. The commentators told the Daily Star tliat the decision of Sonia Gandhi not to accept the stewardship of the Congress has. at least, temporarily ended the Nehru dynasty's long control over the oldest Indian political party which ruled the country for 40 years.
The sources tn Delhi told the Daily Star over telephone that the Congress leaders were meeting In Indian capital to find an acceptable man to lead the party to victory in Lok Sabha elections on June 12 and 15. The Nehru dynasty's control over Congress for a long time has created a leadership vacuum in the party. There is no outstanding personality in the Congress now who is acceptable to Indian people and party's rank and file
Former Indian foreign minister PV Narashima Rao stands a bright chance to succeed the slain leader. But he Is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Besides, his old age may not permit him to campaign for party's victory. Pronab Mukharjee has very little chance to become Congress chief because, so far, the Congress leaders with the exception of Subhas Bose have been chosen from non-Bengall stock. ND Tewari. chief minister of Uttar Pradesh by this count has a bright possibility. In India, there is a saying that he who rules Uttar Pradesh rules India. But Sarod Power, a senior Congress leader from Maharastra is also a strong contender for the party lead ership. With Rajiv’s daughter Priyanka being only 20 and son Rahul 17. The Congress is stymied to pick a leader from the Nehru family. Arun Nehru and Meneka Gandhi, two other Nehru Family members are also out of Congress now.
The senior Congress leaders wanted Sonia Gandhi to lead the party to overcome the present crisis. The political observers in Delhi said that if Congress could use Sonia Gandhi in the campaign, it could gain in the elections. Sonia’s presence in election meetings could earn sympathy for the Congress carxlidates. The political commentators told the Daily Star that Congress would get sympathy votes even without Sonia Gandhi. But that might not give Congress a clear majority to form the government. So India is again seemingly heading for a hung parliament, they opined.
Meanwhile, the Indian President R Vankataraman's attempt to form a national government until the elections are completed has hit snags with major parties refusing to join it at this moment BJP. the National Front and even Congress, albeit implicitly, are against such an idea. BJP is learnt to have declined to Join a national government when the national elections will be completed in next four week's time. The Idea of national government was to show the determination of Indian people to stand together in hours of need. But BJP, the Hindu
revivalist party, is opposing the idea for simple reason l hat Lal Krishna Advani hopes to capture Delhi masnad when Congress Is in crisis.
The National Front has also raised objection to the idea on the ground that it is not required when the country is in the midst of a poll, sources said.
The political instability tn India has threatened the world’s largest democracy. The killing of Rajiv in a bomb blast is' the culmination of violence in Indian politics. The Indian politicians and newspapers were predicting violence in this elections. Calcutta based English daily Telegraph printed photographs of open arms bazar in an around Calcutta. In Bihar arms were on open sale which were being purchased by the candidates of different parties. These were the pre-elections scenario of violence in India. But the blast in Tamil Nadu has come as surprise to many as the south India is considered as the strong base of the Congress. None predicted major violence in the south and probably the killers of Rajiv Gandhi found the area s»fe for their operation.
The tenth Lok Sabha election is seen by many as the a referendum to survival of Indian democracy. The emergence of BJP. which fared well with Hindu passion, has changed the Indian political arithmetics. None of the three major contenders for power-Congress (I). BJP and Janata Party, a left coalition, stands a chance of having absolute majority in the elections. Normally, in triangular fight. Congress gains as it controls
over 42 per cent of votes. But this time even after multi comer fights the Congress will not gain much. The BJP will take away a chunk of the Congress votes from among the upper class Hindus and Janata Party of VP Singh will take away Harijan and Muslim votes.
Congress after Rajiv may gain some sympathy votes but may face inner party crisis as there is no towering personality in the party to unite its cadres all over India.
P’ll add from New Delhi: A high -level Congress-I delegation Yesterday called on the President. Venkataraman to apprise him of the situation arising out of the assassination of the party President. Rajiv Gandhi.
Later, senior party leader. PV Narsimha Rao and eight of his party colleagues declined to divulge as to what transpired at the meeting.
Despite Repeated queries from reporters whether issues like the national government came up at the meeting. Rao said," You will come to know only at the regular party briefing in the evening.
The delegation also comprised in Klo Carunakaran. Balram Jakhar, Arjin Singh. Gulam Nabi Azad. Shiv Shanker, Pranab Mukheijee. Rajendra Kumari Bajpai and Shared Pawar.
Mukherjee, who is also the party spokesman, parried questions whether or not Sonia Gandhi had accepted the decision of the party working committee electing her as the Congress President to succeed her slain husband.