NEW DELHE: In an effort to clear the confusion relating to his suggestion of having common candidates for the ensuing Punjab elections the Congress (I) president P V Narasimha Rao is reported to have said that instead of trying to work out any formal arrangements with other political parties in Punjab the Congress (I) should extend support to those candidates who contest the polls with a “nationalist spirit”
As a result the party has been asked to draw out a strategy under which the Congress(I) would deliberately field weak candidates in assembly seats where an opposition party candidate has better chances of not only winning the election but also possesses an image of a nationalist. In practice such a strategy means that the Congress (I) would not hesitate to join hands with any Political party which is committed to strengthen the democratic forces as well as fight the secessionist and militant forces.
Asked whether the Congress (I) would leave any seat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a senior Congressman from Punjab said: “isn’t the BIP a nationalist party”. Besides he pointed out the presence of Satyapal Dang veteran CPI leader and Dr. Baldey Prakash BIP vice president in the 197 ministry of Prakash Singh Badal to say “if they could join hands then why not now?.”
However the Congress (I) is expected to havea greater understanding with parties like CPI CPI (M) Bahujan Sanaj artyand the Akali Dal factions headed by Surjit Singh Bamala and Capt. Amrinder Singh.
Saying that Rao’s perception of the Punjab situation was akin to that of the late Rajiv Gandhi sources said that like Gandhi Rao also perceives that the party is not likely to emerge as a big group inthe Punjab assembly In fact Rao wants the Akalis to emerge as the biggest legislator group but still short of an absolute majority.
Such a situation the Congress (I) president could serve two purposes. While on one hand it would ensure that Punjabis ruled by the regional parties on the other it would also check any mis-adventure that the Alkalis resort to under pressure from the militants.
Recalling the mid-eighties poll of Punjab sources said that the then Congress (I) president Rajiv Gandhi had replaced as many as 32 Congress (I) candidates at the eleventh hour to ensure-the victory of Surjit Singh Bamalas party. Rao they assent is not averse from doing a repeat now.
Sources also said that it was because of such thinking in the party that Rajesh Pilot Union minister for telecommunications did not hesitate to address two separate meetings of rival Congress (I) factions in Punjab during his recent Visit.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1992
