Kesri Takes U-Turn, Says Support Not Issue-Based

In order to prevent closing of ranks within the United Front by reports about the possibility of Congress forcing a mid-term election or withdrawing support on the oil price issue, party president Sitaram Kesri yesterday adopted a distinct conciliatory posture, promised continued support, and said the support was not issue-based at all.

His posture went against the resolution of the Congress working committee which, unlike the stand adopted before the formation of the H D Deve Gowda government, had decided to extend issue-based support to the I K Gujral government. In the first instance, the support was unconditional, and the idea was to keep communal forces away.

Both Kesri and spokesman V N Gadgil on Thursday spoke of the Gujral government being weak and unstable, that the nation was facing a crisis and that the Janata Dal was disintegrating. But yesterday both changed tack, and denied having spoken in such terms. Kesri had made the remarks at a meeting with state party chiefs.

The turnaround was clearly prompted by the desire to prevent a closing of ranks, and further divisions in an already fragmented United Front. Any further problems within the coalition would only benefit the Congress, but the prospect of the Congress withdrawing support and coming to the centrage, would lead to a closing of ranks and patch-up among the warring sides in the Front.

Yesterday, Kesri declared that the party would stand by the Gujral government irrespective of the fall-outs of the developments in the Janata Dal, and said its support to the government was not issue-based.

The Congress will stand by the Gujral government. The Congress has been honouring the 1996 verdict of the people. Our commitment is to continue support to the government and we shall stand by it. There is no question of issue-based support, Kesri told newsmen, obviously upset over reports about the Congress planning to withdraw support and forcing a mid-term poll.

Asked about the possible split in the Janata Dal, he said it was an internal matter of the party and he would not be bothered with it.