Kesari Takes Responsibility For Poll Reversal, But Wont Quit

The AICC spokesperson yesterday said party president Sitaram Kesari would own the responsibility for the partys electoral reverses but would not resign.

The Congress leadership was on the defensive, as by-election defeats added to the gloom caused by the Punjab debacle.

There were murmurings against party President Sitaram Kesari among supporters of his predecessor, PV Narasimha Rao. The arguement that the partys defeats were because of Raos lack of charisma is finished, said a former Union cabinet minister who is close to Rao. There is no immediate threat to Kesaris leadership, since Rao is too weak and Rajesh Pilot too junior. And Sharad Pawar is like a crab. At the first sign of a fight, he goes underground, commented the former minister.

However, Kesaris opponents hope to build an anti-Kesari panel to contest elections for a new CWC. They expect to be able to force the election of a new CWC at the culmination of the current round of organisational elections.

Kesaris political secretary, Tariq Anwar, confirmed yesterday that the organisational elections would be held, now that the Punjab elections were over. The election commission has stipulated that it would allow no further extensions in its deadline, he said.A meeting of the CWC next Sunday could become an opportunity for criticism.

Kesari said the entire political siuation would be on the agenda. The AICC spokesperson added that this could include the partys performance in the elections.

Anwar put a brave face on the reverses and said the meeting might review the governments performance, particularly its failure to improve the lot of the minorities, the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections.

While citing national interest and political stability to indicate that the Congress was unlikely to withdraw support to the United Front government (which survives because of Congress support), Anwar said: We are not satisfied with the United Fronts performance and we have discussed it in partys working committee and other fora.