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Left, SP will decide future of UF - The Times of India

Smita Gupta ()
March 4, 1998

Title: Left, SP will decide future of UF
Author: Smita Gupta
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 4, 1998

The Left parties which have emerged as the largest block in the
United Front (UF) and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP)
will play a prominent role in the future of the front, apart from
the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which has done reasonably well in
Andhra Pradesh.

The major concern on Tuesday appeared to keep the UF intact and
prevent the front from being raided by the BJP. Indeed, while
many of the constituents are not averse to sitting in the
opposition, the exercise at government formation - with the help
of Congress - appeared to be aimed at preventing the UF from
splitting.

The person most active on behalf of the front was CPM general
secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet even as former prime minister
V.P. Singh got in touch with all constituent leaders to urge them
not to take any hasty step. Mr Singh's concern was as much for
the future of the UF as it was for its present -he stressed to
the front leaders that if they allowed a rupture in their ranks,
the hard work they had put in forging the Third Force would be
wasted. He also asked the Congress to take the initiative in
allaying the fears of those UF constituents whose principal rival
it was in the states if it wanted their support.

While most UF leaders placed their chances of forming a
government with the Congress at 50 per cent, it became clear that
many of them might choose - if they did extend support to that
party - to stay outside . the coalition. For instance, barring
Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP, which has made a spectacular showing
in Uttar Pradesh, the Tamil Maanila Congress -the Left parties,
the regional parties and the Janata Dal, so far appear to be
willing to extend support only from outside.

The SP, which had an electoral arrangement with the Congress and
the RPI in Maharashtra, is the UF constituent which is so far
perhaps the most comfortable with the Congress. Mr Mulayam Singh
Yadav personally has an excellent equation not only with Sharad
Pawar, but also with Madhavrao Scindia and, most important of
all, with Sonia Gandhi. In the event of a Congress-UF
government, it appears almost certain that Mr Yadav will be able
to dictate any post short of that of the prime minister.

While the Left parties have accepted the idea of supporting a
Congress-led government, the regional parties, particularly the
DMK and the TDP could have serious problems with being part of
such a set - up. As far as the DMK is concerned, the Congress
has already begun to say that after the designated court in
Chennai sentenced 26 people (none of whom belong to the DMK) to
death, the findings of the Jain commission no longer hold so much
importance. But while such a stand may allay the anger of the DMK
against the Congress, especially as it is currently reeling from
the impact of being reduced to five seats, for the TDP, it will
not be easy.

UF sources said that the just concluded elections in Andhra
Pradesh have been marked by a great deal of bitterness and with
state elections slated in a year and a halt the TDP will weigh
what will be to its advantage then. This particularly so as the
BJP has made some inroads into its vote bank in this election and
in a three cornered contest, it could do badly. On the other
hand, UF sources point out that the TDP's leader, N. Chandrababu
Naidu is a long- term player, who may not wish to exchange his
convenorship of the UF for playing second fiddle to the BJP.

The UF leaders are slated to arrive here for consultations in the
Capital on Wednesday and the core committee will meet on
Thursday.


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