Congress May Call For Mid Term Poll

05-01-2007, 12:22 AM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /> Govt attacked by its friends and foes 
Agencies | New Delhi
Union Government today came in for a scathing attack in the Lok Sabha from its allies and from the Opposition over handling of the economy.

RJD, a key constituent of the UPA, warning of a "death warrant" for the coalition if meaningful efforts were not made to check inflation.

While discussing the Finance Bill the Left and the Opposition BJP along with several other parties captiously found fault in the financial policies. They allegedly mentioned that it was because of the policies the gap between the rich and the poor was widening, which was resulting in helping the Maoists making the "red corridor" across the country.

Vijay Krishna of RJD said it was the high time that the Congress-led coalition Government put meaningful efforts to bring down prices, else the party would lead this matter to issue a "death warrant" for the Government.

06-06-2007, 10:44 PM

Earlier posts of this thread has speculations pertaining to various combination of a viable 3rd front alternative to Cong and BJP. Here's latest:
Jayalalithaa announces 8-party political front

QUOTEJayalalithaa told reporters in Hyderbad that the grouping would consist of her AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), MDMK, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Kerala Congress and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM).
Note this being hosted at Hyderbad in Naidu's residence.

06-25-2007, 04:51 AM

QUOTEUNPA may come to power in '09 
Pioneer.com
Arun Nehru
The confusion generated by the presidential election has resulted in future coalition patterns evolving for the 2009 - or earlier - Lok Sabha election. As things stand, the coalition groups will be the UPA, the UNPA and the NDA. The different constituent partners can move from one group to another. Only the Left and the BSP are not part of these combinations. The battle for the future, however, will be between the UPA and the UNPA. The NDA will be left only with the BJP. The Left, which can go either with the UPA or the UNPA, the BSP and the BJP will all have to determine their political positions.

I see the Congress shrinking from its current position to about 115 seats. Among the major partners, I see both the DMK and the RJD losing ground. The major gainer will be the UNPA. Theoretically, as things stand, it can form the next Government at the Centre. The UNPA partners - currently eight regional parties, and will add another eight - may well retain their individual identities but fight from a common platform.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's insistence on "total loyalty" could well be to ensure that the Congress, as the single largest party, gets the first offer to form the Government from the President after the next election. But this may not happen if the UNPA contests as a pre-election alliance. In all likelihood, the ADMK and the TDP will get the majority of seats in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the next election. My assessment was that these events would take place after the December election in Gujarat, but things are happening rather rapidly. In such a situation, events tend to overtake decisions, as 'numbers' drive power equations. Anyone can travel in any direction for political longevity at the Centre.

The presidential election is also a lesson for the BJP, as it is clearly facing 'political isolation'. If the party's dismal performance continues, its allies and many others will join the UNPA. The party's failure does not reflect the failure of any individual leader. In fact, the BJP has ceased to function as a team. Worse, internal confusion in the absence of a clear succession plan is leading to a chaos-like situation in the party. The loss in Uttar Pradesh has only aggravated the crisis and I was not surprised by the party's miserable performance in Goa. The BJP and the Congress will win in States where they have charismatic Chief Ministers. For example, we may witness the BJP's victory in Gujarat, thanks to the personal image of Mr Narendra Modi.

The game of musical chairs for the election of the President continues, with the UNPA first announcing Mr APJ Abdul Kalam as its choice and the President later refusing to stand for a second term because of the absence of political consensus on the issue. Now Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who had earlier agreed to withdraw in Mr Kalam's favour, will face the UPA candidate, Ms Pratibha Patil.

As far as Ms Patil is concerned, she is a compromise candidate after the Left reacted to a gloating Ms Mayawati and her deal with Ms Sonia Gandhi over Mr Shivraj Patil, and rejected almost everyone with merit, ability and competence. But few in the Congress are happy with the surfacing of the name of the Rajasthan Governor. Even fewer think that Ms Gandhi can lead the party to victory in the 2009 general election.

My personal assessment is that the UPA nominee will win unless a dramatic political development occurs. Ms Patil, unused to power equations and issues at the Centre, will make initial blunders while trying to show that she is no rubber stamp. The Left, on its part, has given a suitable message to the Congress that it cannot be taken for granted. But I find it difficult to understand the comrades' rejection of Mr Shivraj Patil's candidature.

In a coalition structure with several power equations, can any Home Minister be effective? Can Mr Patil interfere with the civil war-like situation in Nandigram? Did he have any role in the appointment of Ms Radhika Selvi, a 31-year-old Minister of State in his Ministry whose husband, according to media reports, was killed in a police encounter? Can he initiate steps to eject foreigners from Assam or locate sleeper units within the country without disturbing vote-banks in certain States? Mr Patil will say little, but I think to accuse him of lacking in ability is totally wrong.

Mr Karan Singh, too, was rejected. It is indeed unfortunate, keeping in mind his distinguished career and service to the nation. The 'facts' given in the media on his association with certain 'extreme' groups are false. Ms Gandhi in projecting these names took the right decision. So, Ms Patil's candidature is very much an accident of coalition politics.

Meanwhile, the ghost of vendetta politics is back. Punjab's Akali Dal Government seems to have fallen prey to the temptation of indulging in the same game of vendetta that was earlier initiated by former Congress Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. The Punjab Government will file cases, but apart from making lawyers rich, nothing will be achieved in the near future.

Videotapes of alleged hawala operator Chetan Gupta have been released selectively to the media by the Punjab Government to implicate Mr Amarinder Singh. Such evidence has little legal relevance in the courts. If Chetan Gupta has the assets as projected, why was he released? Why were his assets not seized?

The Parkash Singh Badal Government must desist from falling into the trap of vendetta politics. It should remember that it won the Assmbly election because of the anti-incumbency factor, besides the urban upsurge that took place in favour of the BJP.

My personal relations with Mr Amarinder Singh go beyond party lines. It is no secret that he and many among his family members are my close friends. It is also no secret that I had made it known in no uncertain terms that the action initiated against the Badal family by the then Congress Government would result in its electoral defeat.

My political assessment is that in the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the Congress may increase the number of Lok Sabha seats in Punjab - from two to around six seats. Our politicians, however, need to remember that nothing lasts forever and a political victory is not a licence to indulge in vindictive acts

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