P.V.Narasimha Rao finally agreed to step down as president of the Congress party after Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke rejected his pleas for discharge in the Lakhubhai Pathak case, An emergency meeting of the Congress Working Committee has been convened for next Monday to appoint a “provisional president” in the place of Rao. Of the several front runner including Sharad Pawar, Sita Ram Kesri, Pranab Mukherjee and Shivraj Patil, the former Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Anthony has an edge. Rao said “even though the case is yet to be heard on merit, I have decided to relinquish the office. I am totally innocent and allegations leveled against me are false, frivolous and baseless and are intended to cause harm to my reputation.

Rao loyalists reacted with shock over the sudden development and there was palpable air of gloom at the AICC headquarters and at Motilal Nehru residence of the former Prime Minister, R. K. Dhawan, Pranab Mukherjee, S. B. Chayan Sitaram Kesri, and a whole lot of loyalists went to his residence to pledge their support as soon as the news came about his resignation. Except for K. Karunakaran, none of the Congress dissidents who have been trying to get Rao to step down for the last three months was in town today to celebrate their victory. Karunakaran also met Rao this evening. But their relief may prove to be short lived, Rao has already made it clear that he will continue as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. As a possible successor to Rao, for the post of party president is former Kerala Chief Minister A. K. Antony who has the advantage of a clean image. The dissident lobby has had in fact suggested Antony’s name to Rao eyen earlier. Rao had remained his usual enigmatic self and was noncommittal.

In the present crisis, the move to induct Sonia Gandhi into the party has once again been activated, even though she has not shown any inclination to get embroiled in the ongoing power struggle in the party. She, however, emphasized on her callers in the recent days that she was not averse to bless the Congress leaders in their campaign to dis lodge Rao if he does not go on his own by October. But Rao saw the writing on the wall and took everybody by surprise by resigning and summoning the CWC on Monday itself. Sharad Pawarand Ghulam Nabi Asad were in Pune, Rajesh Pilot in Mussoorie, Baltram Jakhar in Ianagar and Ahmed Patel out of town. While Antony may be a hot favorite, names of Sitaram Kesri, Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil figured prominently in the party circles as possible successors to Rao. Pranab Mukherjee, however, said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters today that he was in the race. Pawar parried questions in Pune about his being in the race saying “these decisions are taken collectively.” Karunakaran ruled out the possibility of the CWC asking Rao to take back the resignation saying “he has announced the decision after deep thought. So there is no question of asking him to take back his resignation. “He, however, refused to comment on the issue of a successor to Rao saying it was a matter to be decided by the CWC on Monday. Sharad Pawar said in Pune that Rao had upheld the “high traditions” of the Congress Party by resigning and that his decision was all the more praiseworthy because the case (Lakhubhai Pathak cheating case) against him was veto be decided. Pawar supporters have already mounted a campaign saying that he is the only one capable of leading the party. He had withdrawn from the race in 1991 in favor of Rao and here fore, he should be given a chance to lead the organization now.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 25, 1996