NEW DELHI: Several opposition leaders said the election results in Tamil Nadu were a clear verdict against the central government. They asked the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to seek a fresh mandate from the people. The Congress (I) General Secretary, Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad on the other hand contended that Tamil Nadu elections were not the barometer of the party’s popularity. The Telegu Desam leader, Mr. P. Upendra said the victory indicted the emergence of the Janata Dal as a clear National alternative. Both Mr. Upendra and Karnataka Chief Minister S.R. Bommai asked Gandhi to go for fresh elections to the parliament.
Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Devi Lal congratulated the DMK Chief Karunanidhi and the people of Tamil Nadu for inflicting a crushing defeat on the Congress (I) and added that the result will have far reaching repercussions in Northern states also. Others who congratulated Mr. Karunanidhi were Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. T. Rama Rao and Janata Dal leader Mr. Sharat Yadav. Congress (s) General Secretary Mr. K.P. Unnikrishnan asked Gandhi to step down and order asnap poll. MSS. Gurupadswamy leader of the Janata party in Rajya Sabha said it is a total rejection of Rajiv Gandhi’s misrule and heralds the beginning of a new politics in the country.
Mr. Sharat Yadav said it was a no confidence vote against the Congress (I). It is a vote against the corruption of Congress (1) in high places. BJP said it was an indication that the Congress (I) and Rajiv Gandhi’s days in the government are numbered.
In Calcutta Mr. Subhodh Mukerjee congratulated the DMK Chief for defeating the Congress (I). In a statement Mr. Mukerjee said it was a befitting reply to the challenging tone of Gandhi who made five trips to mobilise support for his party. West Bengal socialist leader Mr, Vipan Mitra also congratulated the people of Tamil Nadu for giving the right verdict.
The CPI Marxist leader Mr. Namboodripad said the result was a trend setter for the rest of the country.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 27, 1989
