08-28-2007, 02:37 AM
Pioneer, 28 Aug.,2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Congress, SP counting on 'art of possible'
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
...in case Left topples Govt on N-deal
Politics is the art of the possible, said nineteenth century German Prussian politician Otto Von Bismarck. This is happening between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. The two parties, which did not see eye to eye three months back, are now quietly exploring the possibility of a possible understanding in case of a mid-term election in the country.
Realising that Mayawati's BSP was not an easy pie to digest, the leaders of the two parties are cosying up, here, there and anywhere whenever they find an opportunity.
Track-two warm up between the leaders of the two parties is on the full swing for the last one month and missives are being passed to each other to forgo the past and plan for a future.
The impasse created by proposed India-US civil nuclear deal has forced the Congress to look for a new ally. Mayawati's silence on the issue has created doubts in the Government circles as to whether her support could be taken for granted during crisis.
On its part, the Samajwadi Party has also realised that the politics of isolation is not going to work for long, as Mayawati is going ahead with plans to replicate her experiment of Dalit-upper caste alliance all over the country.
The coming together of SP and Congress leaders began when former President APJ Abdul Kalam invited leaders of all political parties on his last tea in President House, sources said. The missive came from a top ruling party leader who began talking to a senior SP parliamentarian.
While the Congress leader said, "I have no personal enmity with Mulayam Singh and the Samajwadi Party," the SP leader replied, "see the result of targeting Mulayam Singh Yadav in coming months. Mayawati is not far away from beginning to abuse you in person too."
Her veiled threats to retaliate if the Union Government does not accept her demand for Rs 84,000 crore grant is being viewed in this backdrop. Congress leaders fear that she could use it against the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
After the Left parties announced their opposition to the UPA Government on the nuclear deal, another top leader of the Congress talked to the SP leader.
"Mayawati is non-political, she is totally casteist," said the Congress leader, who is a senior Minister in the UPA Government.
"Mulayam Singh, no doubt, is a seasoned politician and we can converse with him," he added, with a rider that the SP leaders should stop mud slinging against Congress president Sonia Gandhi even at the drop of a hat. "The Left may withdraw support from the Government. You can come in out support to save the Government," a Union Minister responsible for co-coordinating with leaders across political parties in the parliament told the SP leader.
"We have gone too far and need some time to mend fences between us," the SP leader replied. Recently, when the Japanese Prime Minister came to address Parliament's joint session, a Congress leader very close to party chief Sonia Gandhi is reported to have told the SP leader, "You have been friendly to us at the time of UPA formation. What is the point in fighting for ever?"
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Who are they talking about. The SP guy is Amar Singh. Who are teh INC guys?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Congress, SP counting on 'art of possible'
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
...in case Left topples Govt on N-deal
Politics is the art of the possible, said nineteenth century German Prussian politician Otto Von Bismarck. This is happening between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. The two parties, which did not see eye to eye three months back, are now quietly exploring the possibility of a possible understanding in case of a mid-term election in the country.
Realising that Mayawati's BSP was not an easy pie to digest, the leaders of the two parties are cosying up, here, there and anywhere whenever they find an opportunity.
Track-two warm up between the leaders of the two parties is on the full swing for the last one month and missives are being passed to each other to forgo the past and plan for a future.
The impasse created by proposed India-US civil nuclear deal has forced the Congress to look for a new ally. Mayawati's silence on the issue has created doubts in the Government circles as to whether her support could be taken for granted during crisis.
On its part, the Samajwadi Party has also realised that the politics of isolation is not going to work for long, as Mayawati is going ahead with plans to replicate her experiment of Dalit-upper caste alliance all over the country.
The coming together of SP and Congress leaders began when former President APJ Abdul Kalam invited leaders of all political parties on his last tea in President House, sources said. The missive came from a top ruling party leader who began talking to a senior SP parliamentarian.
While the Congress leader said, "I have no personal enmity with Mulayam Singh and the Samajwadi Party," the SP leader replied, "see the result of targeting Mulayam Singh Yadav in coming months. Mayawati is not far away from beginning to abuse you in person too."
Her veiled threats to retaliate if the Union Government does not accept her demand for Rs 84,000 crore grant is being viewed in this backdrop. Congress leaders fear that she could use it against the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
After the Left parties announced their opposition to the UPA Government on the nuclear deal, another top leader of the Congress talked to the SP leader.
"Mayawati is non-political, she is totally casteist," said the Congress leader, who is a senior Minister in the UPA Government.
"Mulayam Singh, no doubt, is a seasoned politician and we can converse with him," he added, with a rider that the SP leaders should stop mud slinging against Congress president Sonia Gandhi even at the drop of a hat. "The Left may withdraw support from the Government. You can come in out support to save the Government," a Union Minister responsible for co-coordinating with leaders across political parties in the parliament told the SP leader.
"We have gone too far and need some time to mend fences between us," the SP leader replied. Recently, when the Japanese Prime Minister came to address Parliament's joint session, a Congress leader very close to party chief Sonia Gandhi is reported to have told the SP leader, "You have been friendly to us at the time of UPA formation. What is the point in fighting for ever?"
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Who are they talking about. The SP guy is Amar Singh. Who are teh INC guys?