Chandigarh: The Lok Dal leader, Mr. Subramaniam Swani has hinted at the possibility of forming a national alternative to the Congress (I) by nationalizing the regional parties and by excluding the Janata Party and Bhartiya Janata Party from it. Addressing a press conference at New Delhi on Ja vary 10, Mr. Swami envisaged in such a national alternative the Lok Dal, Akali Dal, Assam Gana Parshad, Telugu Desam, DM.K., a party to be formed by Sarad Joshi in Maharashtra and another by Mr. Ratty Bhai Adani in Gujarat, If these parties came together, they could among them hope to get 450460 out of the 542 seats in the ok Sabha and thus form a national alternative. Dr. Swami said he would soon have talks on these lines with Telugu Desam leader Mr, N.T. Rama Rao. According to Dr. Swami, the Lok Dal would be the dominating party in the Hindi belt, in the north Akali Dal in the Punjab, AGP in Assam, the Teluga Desam in Andhra Pradesh and D.M.K. in Tamil Nadu and parties of Mr, Joshi in Maharashtra and of Adani in Gujarat. The regional character of these parties could be nationalized once they are brought together. Asked why the Congress (I) of Mr. Shard Pawar could not form the base in Maharashtra, Dr. Swami said that Mr. Pawar was having a series of talks with the Congress (I) President on joining that party and hence could not be a reliable ally in Maharashtra.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1986
