Author: Lakshmi Iyer
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: May 14, 2009
URL: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=3&contentid=2009051420090514032242559b83817dd#ftr2
It is not official yet, but...
Two days before the last phase of the Lok
Sabha elections, the Congress apparently took steps to let go of its PM candidate,
Dr Manmohan Singh, to secure the backing of the Left.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi reportedly
told a member of Delhi Science Forum, a pro-CPI(M) group, on Monday that her
party will accommodate the Left's policy concerns and change the PM candidate,
highly-placed UPA sources said. Sonia did not reveal probable alternatives
to Dr Singh, but one name being discussed in UPA circles is Sushil Kumar Shinde
[a Dalit]. Sources said a change of PM is imperative for securing Left's support.
A UPA leader said, "Despite CPI(M) General
Secretary Prakash Karat going on record that he has nothing personal against
Dr Singh, the Left needs a face-saver to get back to supporting the Congress
after staunchly opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal."
Sources said Sonia is determined to prevent
the NDA from coming to power, one reason being their demand for getting money
stashed away in Swiss banks. With all opinion polls indicating that there
is not much gap between the UPA and the NDA, Sonia does not want to take any
chances.
Officially, the Communists are not willing
to say anything.
The only indication came in the form of CPI
leader A B Bardhan's statement that the Left could support a Congress-led
government only if the country gets a Dalit PM.
But CPI National Secretary D Raja clarified,
"That remark was meant for Mayawati [a Dalit]."
CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury said, "The Congress
has not officially communicated any new name. Let us wait for the numbers
on May 16."
