Commentary/Rajiv Shukla

The Congress will never return to power if they support the UF from outside again

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the only person who spelt out the correct reason behind the Congress withdrawal of support to the United Front government. I do not know why Congress leaders were reluctant to tell the simple truth.

Vajpayee said it was the feeling of non-Congressism among the Third Force (the UF) leaders that forced party president Sitaram Kesri's hand. I agree with him.

The UF leaders had taken the Congress support for granted. They neither co-operated with the party nor consulted its leadership in any political decision. In fact, they wanted to maintain as much distance as possible from the Congress. Vajpayee asked H D Deve Gowda that if today he is willing to constitute a committee headed by the Congress to monitor the government's functioning, why did he not think of it during the last 10 months? It goes to prove the above point -- that the UF leaders took the Congress support too cheaply.

With his statement Vajpayee undoubtedly touches the Congress pulse. I know the Congress mindset; I keep interacting with many of its leaders. The Congress has been in power for more than 45 years, and it was very painful for them to be ignored like that. A few Congress leaders like Sachidanand Swamy, Balram Jakhar, Murli Deora and others close to P V Narasimha Rao, in fact, have been voicing their unhappiness all along.

Worse, the UF leaders abused the Congress leaders -- Indira Gandhi and Rajiv -- in the choicest of language. The chemistry just was not right between the two parties. Congressmen were never comfortable in company of the Janata Dal, the Communists, the Telugu Desam or the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. But, in light of the changed political scenario, then Congress chief Narasimha Rao started shaking hands with these people. The idea was to keep the BJP out of power at all costs.

I can understand that part. But in coalition politics, the largest group should always lead the government. I still remember UF leaders sending feelers to the Congress, hinting that they were welcome to form the government, if they booted Rao from party presidentship. But Rao did not give up the leadership; he preferred to hand over power to Janata Dal leader Deve Gowda. That was not only unnatural, but a political blunder. He should have comprehended that Congressmen would never be able to stomach the UF leaders' thriving.

The Congress withdrawal was an accumulated effect of the humiliation they received from the UF. How long can a Congressman tolerate his old enemies enjoying power -- and that too with their support? Not for long, as we saw.

But I do not blame the UF leaders for it. It is the Congress Working Committee members who should be hauled up for it -- hadn't they happily accepted the situation? Why did the members agree to it? To stop the BJP from coming to power. But should they commit suicide to block the BJP? Are the CWC alone responsible to uphold secularism in this country? And finally, to what extent will they go for Muslim votes? These questions are now being asked by the party workers.

Kesriji, one small request: Next time -- this time, rather -- do not support anyone from outside. Either join the government, or sit in the Opposition. It should be one way or the other. Don't get scared of the BJP. If BJP comes power, let them come to power. For, when they go -- as they surely will -- the Congress will rule.

But if you keep supporting the UF from outside, you will never be able to sit in the prime minister's chair. Never. And your party will be finished.

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