Congress Readies To Step In

The Congress appears gearing up to step into the breach that may soon be caused if AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha withdraws support to the Vajpayee government. Jayalalitha has closed all her options and must deliver the final blow any time now, said an aide to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The view is significant as Jayalalitha may not withdraw support to the Vajpayee government unless she gets the green signal from Gandhi over formation of an alternative government. The war of attrition between the BJP and Jayalalitha appears to be coming to a head once again.

Gandhi called on CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet at his residence on Sunday as part of her preparatory exercise.

The Congress now appears to agree with the assessment of some of its potential allies that unless it gives the green signal for a change in government now, it might be too late. In the absence of an alternative, not only might some of the uneasy allies of the BJP cement their ties with the government, the BJP's managers might even pull over some from the opposition ranks.

Already, the Prime Minister's Office has indicated a possible expansion of the council of ministers in case Jayalalitha does not withdraw support. Of all the BJP's allies, only Mamata Bannerjee has publicly stated during the present crisis that her party will not join the government but continue its support from outside. The Telugu Desam, which also supports the government from outside and which could now participate in the government, is silent.

Meanwhile, the confusion in the media over the acceptability of Gandhi as the next Prime Minister was removed with the Loktantrik Morcha of Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav clarifying its stand yesterday. The only person who has expressed himself against Gandhi becoming Prime Minister is former Chandra Shekhar.