Congress Solidly Behind Kesari

The Congress yesterday appeared to be solidly behind its leader Sitaram Kesaris bid to become Prime Minister. Sharad Pawar, Rajesh Pilot and the handful of Rao backers were upset at the sudden move, but decided to fall in line when they realised that the large majority of MPs backed Kesari.

Three leading lights of the Pawar camp in the Congress Party in Parliament, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, PC Chacko and Praful Patel, yesterday visited Kesari to express their full support for his bid. Earlier, a score of Lok Sabha MPs and some other Congress leaders visited Pawars residence to discuss strategy.

 

Pawar told them that, although he disapproved of Kesaris decision, a split was out of question. Not enough MPs back Pawar. Plus, he noted how Kesari had covered his flanks with a series of steps over the past couple of months leading up to the decision.

For instance, all MPs were consulted during the Parliament session and their complaints against United Front constituents copiously noted by stenographers. The Congress Working Committee had unanimously decided on February 16 to change the nature of Congress support to the Gowda government from unconditional to issue-based.

Some of Pawars backers calculated that the Tanwar murder investigation would damage Kesaris political career sooner or later. For the moment, they have decided they have no option but to accept the fait accompli. Any open protest after the CWCs unanimous resolution last Sunday (in the absence of Pawar and Pilot) could have attracted disciplinary action.

Kesari had consulted a number of senior party leaders over the past several days but Pawar and many other leaders had expected him to withdraw support only after a formal CWC meeting. They expected it to happen during this week, most likely on April 1. Many leaders, including Pawar and Pilot, had planned to be back in town on Monday.

Kesari chose to surprise on Easter Sunday. To outwit the intelligence men posted at his residence, he took his car to the AIIMS, then drove in various directions before instructing his driver to drive to Rashtrapati Bhawan. He had got Pranab Mukherjee to draft his letter to the President, but got the 11 am appointment fixed through others. Even some of his close aides yesterday claimed that they had not been told when he would withdraw support.

Rao supporters seemed to be in retreat, realising that they had no strength to stymie Kesari and that he might soon be the Prime Minister. What camp, asked one of Raos close associates, when asked about the mood in his camp.

Kesari appeared ebullient to his visitors yesterday. The AICC spokesperson said his decision had been welcomed by the rank and file across the country. All chiefs of Pradesh Congress Committees and Congress legislature parties in the states have expressed support for the move, he said.

Asked about Pawars reaction, he said: They have expressed surprise but they have not opposed the move.