NEW DELHI: Nearly 15 Congress (I) Members of Parliament are ready to cross over to the Janata Dal but the party is divided over their admission, it is learnt.
The main opposition is reportedly from the erstwhile Lok Dal. Its calculation is that if the Congressmen were allowed to join the Dal its present dominant position would be in jeopardy.
The Jan Morcha comprising former Congress (I) men has been mainly arguing with Devi Lal, Haryana Chief Minister to drop his opposition Arun Nehru has been particularly pressing that point but without much success.
In fact, Raj Mangal Pandey, the U.P. Leader who resigned his seat in the State Assembly and left the Congress (I) is still waiting for permission to join the Janata Dal. Many who want to leave the Congress I are waiting to see what the Janata Dal party decision will be ‘on his application.
Both the Jan Morcha and Janata members feel that Congress I would be demoralized if those knocking at the doors of the Janata Dal were allowed to get in.
They believe that they should do “something” to counter the propaganda that the Congress I had launched after Ram Naresh Yaday, till recently the U.P. Janata Dal leader, joined it.
The Devi Lal faction says that the character of the Dal would be mutilated if “undesirable Congress.
I members” were admitted. “Already there are many in the Janata Dal who have neither the base nor any basis for being there,” Devi Lal aide said.
The Congress I is said to be relieved at the differences of the Janata Dallleaders over the admission of Congress I members, Before the current session of the parliament the Congress I high command had’ calculated’ that twelve to eighteen members of parliament would leave one after the other to create a dramatic effect.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 28, 1989
