03-09-2007, 06:03 PM
<b>Preparations for making Mrs. Sonia Gandhi as the next Prime Minister of India</b>
The Pioneer Date: 09.03.07
<b>Sanjay K Jha/ New Delhi: The supporting parties on Sunday night put its seal of approval on Congress president Sonia Gandhi's claim to the post of India's Prime Minister. The formal process of Government formation will now begin once the 14th Lok Sabha is formally constituted on Monday. At a dinner meeting hosted by the Congress president at her residence, 10 Janpath, veteran DMK leader M karunanidhi proposed the name of Ms Gandhi to head the coalition Government at the Centre.</b>
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar seconded the proposal. All other leaders present supported it, unanimously electing Ms Gandhi to lead the Government.
The meeting, attended by the leaders of all pre-poll allies of the Congress, the Left and even the Samajwadi Party, also decided to set up a coordination committee and prepare a common minimum programme (CMP). Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee will prepare a working draft of the CMP, which will be sent to the leaders of the supporting parties for approval.
The meeting also discussed giving a formal name for the alliance but it was decided to first wait for the Left's decision on joining the Government before announcing it. On the question of allies joining the Government, Dr Singh, who briefed the Press, said: "The meeting was primarily called to elect the leader and the other issues will be resolved soon." Most of the parties, including the Left, have already given their letters of support.
The Samajwadi Party had not been invited for the meeting but veteran Communist Harkishen Singh Surjeet's camaraderie with Amar Singh changed the plot at the last minute. Mr Surjeet came in Mr Amar Singh's car along with Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh while the other Left leaders like Jyoti Basu and A B Bardhan came separately.
Repeated queries on why BSP leader Mayawati was not called failed to evoke any response from Dr Singh. Later, one senior leader told The Pioneer that the meeting, in two parts, were meant only for the pre-poll allies and the Left which the Congress wants to be part of the Government. The leader said Mr Amar Singh came with Mr Surjeet and the party had no objection to that.
The Congress leaders, who expect the Left and the DMK to finally join the Government, expressed doubts on the possibility of the SP's participation. "It is difficult to say if both the Congress and the SP will find it convenient to be a partner from within," a senior Congress leader said. He said the SP itself will not find it comfortable in the Government if the Left stays out.
There is another aspect of this dilemma as the SP, which has 38 MPs, will not accept a lesser portfolio and the Congress will not spare an important ministry for it. As far as the BSP is concerned, no decision is expected in a few weeks. The Congress has not forgotten the rebuff Ms Mayawati gave to its leader in the run-up to the election.
The Pioneer Date: 09.03.07
<b>Sanjay K Jha/ New Delhi: The supporting parties on Sunday night put its seal of approval on Congress president Sonia Gandhi's claim to the post of India's Prime Minister. The formal process of Government formation will now begin once the 14th Lok Sabha is formally constituted on Monday. At a dinner meeting hosted by the Congress president at her residence, 10 Janpath, veteran DMK leader M karunanidhi proposed the name of Ms Gandhi to head the coalition Government at the Centre.</b>
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar seconded the proposal. All other leaders present supported it, unanimously electing Ms Gandhi to lead the Government.
The meeting, attended by the leaders of all pre-poll allies of the Congress, the Left and even the Samajwadi Party, also decided to set up a coordination committee and prepare a common minimum programme (CMP). Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee will prepare a working draft of the CMP, which will be sent to the leaders of the supporting parties for approval.
The meeting also discussed giving a formal name for the alliance but it was decided to first wait for the Left's decision on joining the Government before announcing it. On the question of allies joining the Government, Dr Singh, who briefed the Press, said: "The meeting was primarily called to elect the leader and the other issues will be resolved soon." Most of the parties, including the Left, have already given their letters of support.
The Samajwadi Party had not been invited for the meeting but veteran Communist Harkishen Singh Surjeet's camaraderie with Amar Singh changed the plot at the last minute. Mr Surjeet came in Mr Amar Singh's car along with Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh while the other Left leaders like Jyoti Basu and A B Bardhan came separately.
Repeated queries on why BSP leader Mayawati was not called failed to evoke any response from Dr Singh. Later, one senior leader told The Pioneer that the meeting, in two parts, were meant only for the pre-poll allies and the Left which the Congress wants to be part of the Government. The leader said Mr Amar Singh came with Mr Surjeet and the party had no objection to that.
The Congress leaders, who expect the Left and the DMK to finally join the Government, expressed doubts on the possibility of the SP's participation. "It is difficult to say if both the Congress and the SP will find it convenient to be a partner from within," a senior Congress leader said. He said the SP itself will not find it comfortable in the Government if the Left stays out.
There is another aspect of this dilemma as the SP, which has 38 MPs, will not accept a lesser portfolio and the Congress will not spare an important ministry for it. As far as the BSP is concerned, no decision is expected in a few weeks. The Congress has not forgotten the rebuff Ms Mayawati gave to its leader in the run-up to the election.