Cong Silent Over Jaya'S Decision
The Congress yesterday kept its fingers crossed over the political developments in Chennai and Delhi even while keeping itself prepared for any eventuality.
Congress Working Committee member Sharad Pawar, who had only a day earlier said that Thursday would be the D-day for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, yesterday told journalists that he expected more definite information from Chennai later in the evening.
Senior Congress leaders kept silent over the developments, only repeating the known party stand that it was a problem between the BJP and its allies and that the Congress would have no role to play in the fall of the government, if and when it happened.
Informally, many were willing to talk as to how Jayalalitha had already come too far on the Cauvery issue and how it would be very difficult for her to retrace her steps. But before taking the final step, she might like to humiliate the BJP.
Asked as to why would Jayalalitha like to humiliate the BJP, a senior party leader said that she was aware of the BJP's attempts to split her party. Even now attempts were on to split the AIADMK and her alliance parties which together have 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Though the Congress is prepared to step in, in case of a constitutional crisis if the government falls, party leaders say the government might make an attempt to survive a floor test.
Apart from attempting to split the AIADMK front, the BJP might get support of six DMK MPs. The Congress is however certain that three MPs of G K Moopanar's Tamil Maanila Congress, an ally of the DMK, would not support the BJP government.
The government might then get the support of 11 members of the Telugu Desam Party. If they are still short of MPs, there might be some abstentions.
The difference between Congress making a bid for power and being prepared to step in if the Vajpayee government fell was explained by a CWC member. He said the Congress would not try and interfere in the internal arrangements and problems of the ruling alliance.
"We are very certain on one thing. If this government falls it would not be because of the Congress but because of the internal contradictions within the ruling alliance."