06-14-2007, 08:24 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â <b>Sonia shows Left its place</b>
Santanu Banerjee | New Delhi
Finalises name with Maya, leaves Comrades in lurch
The Left-Congress relations on Wednesday entered another phase of bitterness with Sonia Gandhi not making any overtures to the Left parties on the issue of finalising the name of UPA's presidential candidate.
According to Left sources, no formal intimation came from 10 Janpath till Wednesday evening and an annoyed top Left Front leader told The Pioneer that<b> "it appears that the Congress wants to finalise the name in consultation with UPA allies minus the Left." </b>Â
Ironically though, both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi began their parleys on the issue with the Left leaders first, on May 10.
<b>The Congress' plan to isolate the Left became apparent when even Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi reportedly conveyed to one of the Left leaders that "as far as Pranab Mukherjee is concerned, Sonia Gandhi wouldn't change her mind." </b>
<b>Karunanidhi who arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, drove to 7 Race Course Road and held talks with Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. The DMK supremo tonight inducted a new element saying two-three names were under discussion for UPA nominee..His advocacy for a strong UPA candidate is in line with the Left stand that Shivraj Patil is a weak candidate.</b>
Incidentally, what has miffed the Left leaders most is Sonia Gandhi having finalised the name of the candidate with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP leader Mayawati while keeping the Left in the dark.
<b>"It is shocking that Mayawati announces that a consensus has been arrived at between her and Sonia Gandhi on the presidential candidate when we have still not been formally informed of the Congress chief's choice,"</b> said a senior Left leader.
Upset over the Congress president's marginalising them, the Left leaders have started a dialogue with other UPA allies, including RJD and NCP. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday called on CPI general secretary AB Bardhan to discuss the stalemate.
Left sources claimed that both these leaders did not disagree with Left position on presidential candidate, but found themselves helpless in persuading the Congress chief not to push for Shivraj Patil's candidature.
"It is strange that the Congress bigwigs would come with names of heavyweights, like Pranab Mukherjee, but would go back on it when we supported his candidature," a top Left leader said.
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Santanu Banerjee | New Delhi
Finalises name with Maya, leaves Comrades in lurch
The Left-Congress relations on Wednesday entered another phase of bitterness with Sonia Gandhi not making any overtures to the Left parties on the issue of finalising the name of UPA's presidential candidate.
According to Left sources, no formal intimation came from 10 Janpath till Wednesday evening and an annoyed top Left Front leader told The Pioneer that<b> "it appears that the Congress wants to finalise the name in consultation with UPA allies minus the Left." </b>Â
Ironically though, both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi began their parleys on the issue with the Left leaders first, on May 10.
<b>The Congress' plan to isolate the Left became apparent when even Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi reportedly conveyed to one of the Left leaders that "as far as Pranab Mukherjee is concerned, Sonia Gandhi wouldn't change her mind." </b>
<b>Karunanidhi who arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, drove to 7 Race Course Road and held talks with Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. The DMK supremo tonight inducted a new element saying two-three names were under discussion for UPA nominee..His advocacy for a strong UPA candidate is in line with the Left stand that Shivraj Patil is a weak candidate.</b>
Incidentally, what has miffed the Left leaders most is Sonia Gandhi having finalised the name of the candidate with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP leader Mayawati while keeping the Left in the dark.
<b>"It is shocking that Mayawati announces that a consensus has been arrived at between her and Sonia Gandhi on the presidential candidate when we have still not been formally informed of the Congress chief's choice,"</b> said a senior Left leader.
Upset over the Congress president's marginalising them, the Left leaders have started a dialogue with other UPA allies, including RJD and NCP. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday called on CPI general secretary AB Bardhan to discuss the stalemate.
Left sources claimed that both these leaders did not disagree with Left position on presidential candidate, but found themselves helpless in persuading the Congress chief not to push for Shivraj Patil's candidature.
"It is strange that the Congress bigwigs would come with names of heavyweights, like Pranab Mukherjee, but would go back on it when we supported his candidature," a top Left leader said.
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