Kesari Wins Some, Lose Some

His failure has prevented Kesari from emerging as the unchallenged leader of the party, as he could have done had Mayawati been installed. There are already whispers about his going to plead Mayawatis case - in vain - before the UF steering committee earlier this week.

Some senior party leaders talk of it as a devaluation of his office, that Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda dozed through much of his emotional appeal and that the president of the countrys oldest and most distinguished party should not have gone to beg thus. Obviously, those who had been worriedly watching Kesaris evident desire to take over as leader of the Congress Party in Parliament are pleased at his failure. These include not only staunch supporters of the incumbent, PV Narasimha Rao, but also other ambitious leaders who covet the top job. Leaders like Sharad Pawar have been waiting in the wings to make a bid to replace Rao as CPP leader.

Kesari was appointed provisionally by the CWC when Rao resigned last month but had set his sights on taking over the party in a real sense at the end of the organisational elections that are underway.

His supporters hoped that his role in installing Mayawati would increase Kesaris stature considerably within the party and in national politics. He had set the stage to play a central role by warning during the election campaign that the Congress could withdraw its support to the central government if the UF did not back Mayawatis candidature. His backers point out, though, that the party has benefitted insofar as Kesari has succeeded in keeping the alliance with the BSP intact. Plus, they say, his unswerving backing for Mayawati, focussing it as an appeal for the empowerment of a Dalit woman, this will go a long way to rekindle the faith of the poor and the socially marginal in the party. The Congress has acquired the image of a pro-rich party, they add, and such policies will help it considerably.