Days Of Single-Party Rule Not Over, Says Congress

The Congress rejects the contention that the days of single party-rule are over, and ridicules those who believe that the age of coalition has come.

The Congress perception on such issues forms the focus of the literature it intends to bring out to commemorate 50 years of Independence. The groundwork related to this is being done by senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee. The literature is expected to be formally released during the plenary session in Calcutta from August 8.

Congress sources said the papers to be brought out on the occasion would include a full-scale attack on non-Congress parties. The alleged damage done to the polity by non-Congress parties will be set out in detail in the literature, they said.

The move is considered significant in view of reports that the Congress is preparing for a mid-term elections later this year.

We strongly believe that except the Congress, no party has contributed anything to the country. The United Front coalition is but a temporary phase in the countrys history, a senior party leader said.

According to Pranab Mukherjee, it is too simplistic to believe that the days of single-party rule are over. Out of 50 years since independence, there were 45 years of single-party rule. As such, none should rush to the conclusion that the age of coalition is here to stay merely on the fact that a 13-party coalition is in power today, he says.

Mukherjee cites recent electoral history to substantiate his claim. There were 21 assembly elections between 1991 and 1996; in 17 of them the verdict was clear and decisive. It is true that the Uttar Pradesh electorate threw up a hung assembly in 1996, but at the same time, there was a clear verdict in favour of the Akali Dal in Punjab, he points out. Also, between 1952 and 1996, there were 11 Lok Sabha elections; and there were decisive verdicts on nine occasions.