CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The Election Results Day Chat

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:10)

Archana Dalmiya: Do you have any explanation for the Congress-BSP tie-up failing to click in Punjab?

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:10)

Everyone: Hello, everyone I am ready for your questions.

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:10)

Saisuresh: It was a decision taken by the CWC but it's quite obvious that it hasn't turned out the way we expected it to.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:11)

Rajiv Shukla>> What is your overall reading of the situation as it exists now? Which of the two groups stands the better chance of forming the government?

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:13)

I think as we are closing to the final picture. The verdict seems to be quiet fractured and the scenario is that it will be very difficult for the President of India to take any decision. Due to two reasons. It seems that in two days' time, the Congress and UF may hand over a joint letter to the President saying that he should wait for their decision before calling anyone to form the government. Parleys are already on between UF and Congress leaders. On the other hand, the BJP and allies have emerged as the single largest group and if Mr K R Narayanan goes by the precedent set by his predecessors, he will have to call Vajpayee first.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:19)

Vaibhav: In the Congress-UF coalition, I think Manmohan Singh will be the most likely choice though Pawar has got the maximum number of MPs. But it will be difficult for him to seek a consensus within the party.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:21)

As far as the UF is concerned, they don't have any chance to get the PM 's chair since the formula has been already worked out -- whoever has the maximum number of seats, the PM will be from that party. As far as Sonia is concerned, the CPP is willing to elect her the leader unanimously. But she has not made up her mind to accept any office.

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:21)

Congress president Sitaram Kesri has just stepped into the Congress office. Kesri has come to the party office first time after the results started coming in.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:22)

Archana Dalmia: With the President forced to call the BJP first by virtue of it emerging as the single largest party, how many days does your party give Vajpayee & Co this time before, well, you think it will defeated in Parliament for the second time? Also, in the last two years, the BJP has shown it is a fast learner when it comes to cobbling together a majority. What do you think is the likely scenario that will emerge?

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:22)

The Congress president is to soon convene a meeting of the apex Congress Working Committee. The crucial meeting will decide whether the Congress should stake claim to form the government or not.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:23)

Rediff@Congress hq: When is Mr Kesri going to react to the results? More importantly, is he joining us on the chat?

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:23)

Murali: Amongst the UF constituents, M S Yadav and the TMC, have no problems with Sonia.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:23)

Rediff-Congress: What's Kesri doing there, meetings, or is it what they call in politik-speak a "courtesy call"?

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:24)

Vaibhav: Communists can do anything and they have mastered the art of switching sides as per their convinenice. Particularly Mr Surjeet.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:26)

Vaihav: As you already know that Surjeet has already said in an interview that in the current situation the Left may support a Congress-led government to prevent communal forces coming to power.

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:26)

Besides Kesri, Ghulam Nabi Azad is the only other top leader present in the Congress camp now. Sharad Pawar and other senior CWC members are expected in the Congress office anytime now. They are all supposed to sit together to chalk out what the party should do now.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:28)

Mr Hypothetical: A government will be definitely be formed. Permutations and combinations will be worked out accordingly. The President is not going to allow another election immediately.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:30)

Vaibhav: In a coalition government how can you give both the posts-- that of deputy PM and of PM' -- to the Congress party only.

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:31)

Interestingly, Mrs Sonia Gandhi met all the top Congress leaders today. Though no Congress leader has yet disclosed her "mind", it is believed that Sonia has given her "nod" to the party leadership to patch together a coalition government.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator. (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:34)

Hindustani: I agree with you. It would be very difficult for anyone to split Congress as it requires more than 50 MPs for the requisite one-third strength.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:45)

Rediff@Congress hq: The market is suddenly abuzz with talk that Sharad Pawar has received 10, Janpath's nod. What does the party have to say about it?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:45)

Rediff-Congress>> And who, according to grapevine, is she favouring for CPP leader -- the potential PM in other words?

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:47)

I think in India there should be only two political blocs, one led by the Congress and another led by the BJP. Forces like the JD and other caste-ridden parties should not be given any importance and they should join either of the blocs. The so-called third front hasn't any conception of economy, foreign policy and other national problems. They have only ruined the economy of our country.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:49)

SHalini: Of course, the BJP is trying to approach the President while the Congress-UF are busy sorting out their own differences.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:50)

Prathiba: The constitution is mum on a foreigner to become the Prime minister of India. AS far as Sonia is concerned. As per existing records, she is an Indian citizen, thus she hasn't got any constitutional bar on her becoming the prime minister.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:51)

Vaibhav: Sharad is not capable enough to split the Congress.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:52)

Rajiv Shukla: That is a very unusual view, that the third front does not have any concept of so many things. Much as I may disagree with the existence of the UF government and its single point raison d'etre, the Gujral government did show that it had the gumption to run the country well. P Chidambaram was easily among the leading finance ministers of the country so far. Gujral was a good foreign minister, Chaturanan Mishra was a good minister. To say that this outfit had not concept at all of governance etc, is not being fair to the UF.

One of the reasons why the Congress could not stomach the UF was also that, far from being a mere puppet, the UF showed that it had an independence of thought and viewpoint, often in conflict with the Congress's and often far better than the latter. It was also because the Congress felt that the longer the UF remained in power the dimmer its own chances of coming to power or even of emerging as a counterpoint to the BJP, that it pulled down the government

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:53)

Mr Hindustani: If you live in India and if you have an American wife who has acquired Indian citizenship, she is also entitled to become the PM of India.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:55)

A very pleased Sitaram Kesri in a meeting in the garden says that he is jubilant about the party results so far. The Congress president is very clear that the party has no qualms about talking to the UF for forming the next government. "The pages of history should not be turned, what has happened in the past should be wiped out. Our major concern is stability," he says. Kesri will not divulge the name of the person likely to become the prime minister. The Congress president chose to dismiss any such querries rather philosophically.

"How can I tell you about the future. Even while I am talking here, this present moment is becoming history. These things will be decided in time to come." Kesri also glosses over his own chances of leading the country, if Sonia Gandhi declines. "I can't say anything about the future right now," says Kesri as his supporters in the Congress camp rent the air with 'Chacha Kesri zindabad."

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:56)

Mr Kesri attacked the press for giving the Congress such bad publicity. Even though the BJP spent huge amounts of money, the Congress's only resource was Mrs Gandhi, he said.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:57)

Soon we will be joined by Mr Kesri's close aide Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:57)

Saisuresh Swamy: Chidambaram is an ex-Congressmen influenced by Rajiv's ideology. Gujral is the only exception. I am not talking about left front leaders. I am only talking about leaders like Sharad Yadav, Laloo, Mulayam, Ram Vilas Paswan, Beni Prasad Verma, Janeshwar Mishra, Rabri Devi and others who control caste-oriented political parties.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 2:59)

KRao: Definitely, the BJP will be keen to offer anything to the TDP except the PM's post.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:0)

Hello everyone. I am sure you are all eager to be in touch with India at this exciting time.

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:2)

As far as the results that have come in so far, it is clear that the BJP will not have a majority. It will fall short by 25-30 seats. In this event, there is no harm if the Cong-UF form a government because they have the majority.

Rajiv Shukla, Political Commentator, and host of popular TV show, RU-BA-RU (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:3)

Shalini: Definetly, Mr Vajpayee will be very careful about the majority this time before staking the claim. EVERYONE; GOODBYE. SEE YOU AGAIN ON REDIFF CHAT.

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:3)

It is too early to say who will be PM until the total picture reaches us.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:4)

Imran Kidwai>> Okay, fair enough, but tell us who the front runners are.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:5)

The Samata Party's view would be shared by many in this country that this will be a particularly unnecessary and unfortunate election if, at the end of it all, the people of India get more of the same rubbish they have had to tolerate in the past 18 months.

We as one of the allies of the BJP believe that we can and will form a truly alternative government which will finally adress the issues that really matter -- for instance, poverty, unemployment, corruption, national security, and the extreme disparities that are being created becuase of imbalanced economic policies. We want to give India a goverment that will make every Indian anywhere be geniunely proud of being Indian.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:6)

Ms Jaitley: Did you expect Laloo to hold on to Bihar and stave off the BJP-Samata challenge the way he did? Thanks to him and Mulayam in UP, both of whom fought your combine single-handedly, the BJP is so near and yet so far...

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:6)

DMK is a very small fraction of TN politics. They will not have the kind of role they had earlier. Earlier it was difficult for the UF to leave the DMK, I think it is not so now.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:15)

Imran Kidwai: Since there is no question of Sonia becoming PM -- she will wait it out till the party can manage the post on its own and not depend on untrustworthy allies -- can you think of a better candidate than Sharad Pawar for PMship?

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:15)

basiram: Actually there is no clean sweep in Bihar, although we have left the RJD with less than before. The final results of Bihar are still being tabulated and we expect the BJP-Samata to reach somewhere near 35.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:16)

We have here with us Mrs. Mridula Sinha, the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha and renowned Hindi writer...

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:17)

We are hoping and are sure that the President will call us since we are the party with the most number of seats. The President will call the BJP and we are hopeful that the "others" will support us. And we have indications from them too... I cannot say about the indications and Mr. Vajpayee and Mr Advani.

Independents who were seeking our tickets will now support us... Also, other groups may suporrt us... We may or may not be able to break other parties... These elections would not have happened if the BJP were in power and now nobody wants an election anymore.. So, hopefully, everyone will support us...

Our senior leaders have already begun talks... We are hopeful that the past will not repeat itself. Everyone will realise that and will try not to repeat it this time... People have seen the Congress and it's allies and how they have fared... The mandate is in favour of BJP now because they don't want 1996 to be repeated...

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:17)

Ven: We have the numbers closest to a stable majority. We believe that we will be able to acheive our objectives within the next few days since there are far more contradictions within the UF-Congress relationship.

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:18)

It is very premature to say what Mrs Sonia Gandhi will say. But since she has been the main cause of the Congress getting so many seats, she will definitely have a say in deciding the next prime minister.

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:18)

Everything right now depends on Soniaji and the strategy of the UF.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:18)

Ms Jaitley: Did you expect Laloo to hold on to Bihar and stave off the BJP-Samata challenge the way he did? Thanks to him and Mulayam in UP, both of whom fought your combine single-handedly, the BJP is so near and yet so far...

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:19)

Our post-poll arrangement with Chautala is justified because he has come on his own and is willingly giving us support, though he fought against us and our ally, the HVP, in Haryana.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:19)

schivate: The BJP's views are in their manifesto, which they have clearly said will only be implemented when they have a majority on their own. Since they have to evolve a common minimum programe with all their allies, problematic issues will not be on their agenda at all.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:20)

Kesri on Mamta Bannerjee: First we used to call her a daughter, I still think of her that way. We disagreed with her politics. There could always be discussions, a meeting of minds.

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:21)

Our case is totally different from the UF and Congress. As for the UF, they fought against each other and, later, after the polls, they came together. But we have got the major chunk of seats and we just need a few more. So the situation is vastly different...

Imran Kidwai, joint secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:21)

vaibhav: If the Congress party and MPs decides then Manmohan Singh should be PM, then definitely he is acceptable.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:21)

vaibhav: The north-east, independents and a major constituent of the UF who cannot possibly join a government in coalition with the Congress and yet be their main opponent in the state.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:21)

Imran Kidwai: But what is your opinion personally? Barring Sonia, can you think of a better candidate from the party than Sharad Pawar, who has routed the Sena-BJP in Maharashtra? Arjun Singh has fallen by the wayside, as has N D Tiwari. That leaves only Karunakaran and Scindia, both of whom, despite winning themselves, have not worked wonders in their state the way Pawar has...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:21)

Kesri on Mamta: She left the Congress, she formed another party, she took someone else's support, it is for her to decide what she wants to do next.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:22)

Everyone: Hello, I am ready for your questions.

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:22)

there is another difference BJP is the biggest party in this alliance from which the we would have a Prime Minister. But in their case the Prime MInister was from a party which was smaller than the supporting party...

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:23)

Hello Mr Rao, tell me, which among the opinion polls do you think has been bang on target? And now that *all* the exit polls have fallen on their face, how much reliability can we place on them?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:23)

Kesri on Sonia: She is responsible for the improved performance of the Congress.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:23)

I think 13 party UF government will be replaced more likely by a 13 plus party BJP led government before end of next week.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:24)

Saisuresh: In both cases there has been the well perfected art of state rigging. In Bihar it has gone on for a long time and in UP the toppling of the Klayan Singh for just that crucial day of the polls allowed massive rigging to take place in the seats that Mulayam Singh wanted. The real shortage has actually come from the reverses in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In BIhar and UP we are only two or three seats short of expectations.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:25)

At this point, some more seats are yet to be taken out for counting. My projection last night at 10 pm n Zee TV was BJP with it's allies would be less than 255. and the congress and it's allies would be within 150. ANd the UF would be within 105. 105 including the national conference.

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:28)

Rajba: Definitely. BJP had the alliance even before th polls. It is not an opportunistic alliance. So I am quite sure that we would have a stable government with all our allies...

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:29)

schivate: The Samata Party believes that special opportunities must be provided to Indian industry whenter large small scale or cottage so that we can fully utilise and develop the capabilities that we have. secondly liberalisation cannot be another word for swamping and swallowing our infrasturcture which we painstakingly built since freedom to be self reliant. Priority will be given to those foriegn investments which provide us with technology that we do not have. we can produce a hundred different colas on our own. we believe in giving ourselves a chance first.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:29)

Hello Mr Rao, tell me, which among the opinion polls do you think has been bang on target? And now that *all* the exit polls have fallen on their face, how much reliability can we place on them?

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:30)

Whether it be a family or a village or a government if the head ie the head of the family or any group is clean the government would also be clean. We have a galaxy of leaders who have a clean track record...

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:30)

SAisuresh Saiswamy: Let us first take the exit polls. Our experience now and the last LS elections has been that while at the national level we could do fairly well. At the state level, we had to sharpen the methodologies. The kind of deviations now and in the last elections are similar. Apart from that, the logistical compulsions at the polling booths will continue to be imponderable, given the kind of 'group voting'.

Regarding the pre-poll survey, I am afraid that by and large, except one (CSDS), all end up with similar projections. If I am not mistaken and if you have access to our CMS projects at four different times (December 5th, January 10, January 30 and February 8), you would notice that this election was a lot easier for pollsters, except in the case of AP and TN.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:32)

Mr Rao: A related question again. What do you think went wrong with the polls in Tamil Nadu? Was it wrong sampling? Was it that the agency had a preconceived notion and worked the results around to it?

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:33)

Ram: Now that we have seen what kind of stability a 13-party coalition could give. Do we need to say much about 13 plus led one. More so, given the kind of policy contradictions both of economic as well as social.

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:34)

We need 33 per cent in assemblies and Parliament. It was BJP which demanded this for the first time in 1992 in our Baroda national council. It was Advaniji who put forth the idea and, later, it was included in our manifesto. It was also in our common minimum programme...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:34)

Mr Rao>> Two buzzwords have been heard, the first during the campaign phase, the second now. One is the "Sonia Factor", the other the anti-incumbency factor that is being used to explain results such as TN, Maharashtra, Rajasthan et al. Could you tell us just how much of a role these factors have played in the results?

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:36)

This time we gave just 10 per cent. But in 1989 we had five MPs, 10 in 1991 and 14 women in 1996. So the percentage of seats also increased. This time we have given 32 out of 378 seats for women...

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:37)

Mr Rao: A related question again. What do you think went wrong with the polls in Tamil Nadu? Was it wrong sampling? Was it that the agency had a preconceived notion and worked the results around to it?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:37)

Mridula Sinha>> Just curious, how come the BJP's list of candidates does not have 33 women, leave alone 33 per cent? Does this signal a bit of a gulf between precept and practice?

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:38)

If we have given 33 per cent tickets to women and the other parties had fielded men in all those seats we would have problems. Because elections in many places are won and lost on money and muscle power...

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:38)

Mr Rao: Please do not be offended, I have been following your opinion polls this time (and previously as well. You may not remember me, I used to be in Indian Express, Bombay), and, in fact, I have your last opinion polls, and you are bang on target!

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:45)

The Congress-UF attempts are not at all unexpected. The Congress went into the elections thinking that they would get the upper hand on their own. Now that they desperately need support they are smiling at those they abused the other day. CPM leader Surjeet is well known as a willing broker who is ever ready to put his Marxist ideology aside as long as he can get a deal. It will not be possible for this combine to present a stable picture to the President of India since they are left and TDP could not possibly be a part of the coalition unless they want to destroy their own parties in their states.

The BJP and its allies have a much sounder base and could assure a stable government. It will clearly have Atal Bihari Vajpayee as its prime minister while the others will get into a big tussle over that. This hardly presents a worthy picture for those who believe in responsible governance. Talks are on among the BJP and its allies, and we are confident of being able to go to the President with a workable number.

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:45)

Among the one million people elected to local bodies, most of them are women. That we could do because we were palying on a level playing field. We won't be able to do when the rest of the parties are not fielding women...

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:48)

jijo: Yes, it would like to so that it can carry out all the policies that it believes are important. George Fernandes is a very senior parliamentarian who has been a important cabinet minister twice. Nitish Kumar has also been a competent minister before. Both of these, or some others, could be in the cabinet.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:48)

Mridula Sinha: Thanks for the frank admission that women are incapable of facing men, winning against men!

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:49)

Mridula Sinha>> Ummmm... that sounds like, women candidates are not confident of taking on their male counterparts! :-)

MRIDULA SINHA, President of Mahila Morcha (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:49)

I will come later as the picture gets clearer. Abhi ki mulakat bus itni. I hope BJP forms the government and we would be able to implement our manifesto to create a new society on the basis of our own culture, values we will build a new nation. Purani neev naya nirman.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:49)

TRP: the BJP has carried out the reservation policy in terms of giving representations in larger numbers to backward classes, tribals and scheduled castes. They have also promised to pass the 33 per cent reservation for women bill when they come to power.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:51)

I think you mentioned my name wrong. It is Dr Rao and not Dr Reddy. There were four or five already existing allies before the dissolution of the LS. These are the SS, the SMP. the HVP, the Akali Dal, and then of course there were at least 10 more new alignments included on the eve of the 1998 poll.

Some of these are the BJD (Orissa), the Lok Shakti of Ramakrishna Hegde, the TDP (Parvathi), the Trinamul Congress of Mamta, the AIADMK, the PMK, the MDMK etc. But even after all these seats won by these parties, the BJP will not be able to reach the required number. And they still need to attract a couple of more people.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:53)

schivate: Take Sambhal constituency, for example. Why was their need for rigging and booth-capturing on such a large scale if the SP was confident of getting the votes? They removed the para military forces overnight and replaced them with Home Guards. Officials close to the SP were put in charge and the BJP candidate's house was raided. All this within hours of the 48 hour wonder chief minister being sworn in by a rogue governor.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:53)

Mridula Sinha, thank you very much, we hope to see you here again.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:55)

Present positon, 247 to the BJP front, 165 to the Congress, 100 to the United Front, 19 to Others.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:56)

Sai Suresh Swamy: I said, Hi, Sai. Thinking that we are seeing each other. Of course, I know you well. And I was just talking about you. And, in fact, I was trying to update your contact number. I was still under the impression that you are with IE.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:56)

The BJP-Shiv Sena lost ground in Maharashtra becuase they were unable to provide solutions to the basic problems of the people. The opposition alliance was well cemented and benefitted the Congress, if not the other partners. Perhaps there was a sense of over-confidence and thus a lack of responsiveness on the part of the ruling combine.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:57)

Interesting exercise, comparinig that trends position to declared results. Which reads 221 to the BJP alliance, 159 to the Congress alliance, 92 to the United Front and 19 to Others. First up, what we are saying here is that the Others have pretty much shot their bolt, uinless one of the seats now pending swings away from one of the big players.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:57)

Okay, folks, time for a little update. The BJP held a press conference a while ago at the premises here. We present a few extracts.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:58)

Jaya Jaitly>> Various analysts have termed Thackeray a bit of an embarassment to the coalition in Maharashtra. Would you agree?

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:59)

Saisuresh.. I presume you are exaggerating in humour. The Samata Party has promised in it's manifesto that it would like to limit the size of cabinets in the Centre and the states.

Dr Bhaskar Rao. Chairman Centre for Media Studies (Tue Mar 3 1998 3:59)

Pillai: Many of these parties will be changing from now to the next one week. A couple of them have already moved in the last 48 hours. This is a part of Indian political scene. And, in fact, it reflects, in a way, the decline of political parties and the sidelining of ideologies. If at all they ever existed. SORRY FOLKS, I HAVE TO RUSH FOR AN ANOTHER INTERVIEW. SEE YOU SOME OTHER TIME, MY TEL: O11-6851660, AND E-MAIL,nbraocms@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:0)

Mr Venkaiah Naidu does not think there is any need for the chief minister of Maharashtra to resign, despite the debacle of the alliance in the state. "Maharashtra," he said, "may not have given us the mandate to rule the country but it has definitely given us the mandate to rule the state."

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:1)

Prem: in some instances yes. But his recent proposition on finding a solution to the Ayodhya question has been very sensible. Unfortunately, sensible people are not willing to take it up because the politics of confrontation suits everyone better.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:2)

Jaya Jaitly>> Yeah, right, George Fernandes told us in an interview from Pune that he favoured that idea. Do you think that in the event of a CMP being framed by the BJP's allies, the SP will push for a national monument in Ayodhya?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:3)

Dr Bhaskara Rao, thank you very much, hope to see you on here again, when the position is further clarified.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:3)

"Anyway," Venkaiah Naidu continued, "does this mean that every chief minister in every state where the ruling party has done badly has to resign? There is no need for this. Anyway, he has given his resignation to Bal Thackeray and not to the government."

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:4)

Since the lines have been busy, the chat has not been as smooth flowing as last time. but I must say goodbye now as there is work to be done. Good wishes to all.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:4)

Mr Arun Jaitly, BJP spokesperson and member of the national executive, should be with us in the next 10 minutes.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:5)

Jaya Jaitly, thanks and all the best, hope to see you again.

Jaya Jaitly, Samata Party (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:6)

Prem: the issue of an temple is not on anyone's agenda except the BJP . so it will not be in the common minimum programe. I hope that there will be a general consensus that all contentious issues will be solved through dialogue. and if not then by excepting a court verdict. Thank you

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:9)

Hello everybody. First a comment on the results. The BJP's dominant position in Indian politics is now conclusively established. Regarded earlier only as a party of north India. the BJP today, even without its allies, has won a Parliament seat in every major seat in India except Kerala. In fact, our losses in the western states of Maharshtra and Rajasthan have been offset by the performance of BJP in the south. So dominating was the BJP presence that, despite reversals in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Haryana, we have still crossed the 250 mark. We are now within a handshaking distance of an absolute majority.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:9)

Rediff-BJP-HQ: Rather fun to see leading politicians now trying to dissociate state level politics from the national election. Remember a time when the minute you have a national result that goes against the state government, the first thing you hear is the winner demanding the resignation of the losing party at the state? In fact, Karunakaran has already said the LDF government in Kerala should quit!

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:11)

Our rivals are rattled. The Marxists are clearly emerging as the ideological aya rams gaya rams of Indian politics. They are now searching for rationales to legitimise their support to the Sonia Congress. I don't think we could have achieved better success than by dealing this ideological embarrassment to the Marxists.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:11)

The scene at 24, Akbar road is once again subdued, the jubilation in the Congress camp momentarily dampened by a slight drizzle here. A clearer picture is expected after the press briefing.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:12)

Arun Jaitly>> Talking of embarassment, would the failure of the BJP to get a majority, despite fighting the election on the Vajpayee-for-PM slogan, count as one?

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:13)

Look at the Janata Dal. Last time it won seats only in Bihar Orissa, Bihar and Karnataka. Its political base was anti-Congress. Its leaders aligned with the Congress in New Delhi. Its vote has travelled to the BJP. Those regional and left parties which sought votes against the Congress and now attempt to put Congress in power will pay the same price.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:15)

Prem, why should there be any embarrassment to the BJP. Our alliance has crossed the 35 per cent figure of the popular vote. That is much beyond our expectation. We are 100 seats ahead of our closest rival. We had just two seats in Parliament eight years ago. Its an unparallel political upswing. It calls for celeberation not embarrassment for us.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:16)

Arun>> We hear that Mr Vajpayee met with the senior leaders of the party earlier this afternoon, could you clue us in on what the party game plan from here on in will be?

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:17)

Prem, Mr Jaitley has just left for a quick shoot with CNN. But he will be right back so keep the questions flowing...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:18)

REdiff-BJP-H!:: I suppose the foreign media is out in force in that part of the world, huh?

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:19)

The Congress has just now held an official press briefing and announced that the next Prime Minister will be from the Congress party.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:21)

Rediff-Congress>> So they are officially throwing their hat in the government-formation ring? Did they give any indication who the PM will be? And what is the reading you guys come up with -- where are the numbers going to come from?

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:21)

Briefing the media at the AICC, CWC member Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress and the United Front have decided to form the next government. "It is a mandate against BJP. It is a mandate for the secular parties led by Congress and the United Front," he said.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:22)

Mr Azad said the Congress' performance in the elections was very impressive and spectacular compared to the 1996 elections.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:22)

Mr Azad said the United Front partners have positively responded to the suggestion from the Congress leaders that there should be a Congress-led-United Front government at the Centre.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:23)

Rediff-Congress>> Can you confirm, does this mean the Congress and UF will SHARE power, or will Congress run the government with UF support?

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:25)

Mr Azad said most United Front partners have agreed that the prime minister should be from the Congress party. "Choosing the prime minister is the business of the Congress party. We have made it very clear to the United Front partners that selecting the Prime Minister is our internal business," Mr Azad said.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:27)

I think the Congress claim to form a government is politically ludicurous. The Congress has been squarely rejected by the people. Interpreting mandates in a dishonourable manner is what the Congress is attempting. The party has barely over 25 per cent representation in Parliament. To seek an alliance or a combination with the UF, and claim a mandate is impossible. Incoherent figures coming together do not constitute a mandate. The political moral and constitutional right to form a government belongs to the BJP. Any denial of that opportunity would be an onslaught on the popular mandate. It will earn public wrath.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:27)

Prem: The Congress' effort now is to rope in the key United Front partners like the Samajwadi Party and the Telugu Desam Party to join in a Congress-led government.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:28)

Ram: It is not prudent to name the political groups. But one must bear in mind that the anti-Congress vote in the country is much larger than the pro-Congress vote. Almost 75 per cent of the electorate has voted against the Congress. Smaller political groups elected on an anti-Congress mandate would certainly prefer the BJP to the Congress party.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:29)

The Congress leaders have almost got an assurance from the Left front that the Communists will support a Congress-led coalition government. The Left leaders are now inclined to give unconditional support to a Congress government in an effort to prevent the BJP from forming a government.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:30)

Prem, about Vajpayee's meetings: it can't be disclosed.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:30)

The general mood at the AICC office is utmost confidence in forming the next government. People here say now that it is the UF which is coming to the Congress.

Rediff@Cyber Cafe (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:31)

Jaya Jaitly found the net a very interesting way of communicating with people all over the world. She hopes to do it again sometime in the future. Meanwhile,we are awaiting A B Bardhan and K C Pant.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:31)

Mr Jaitley: Assuming the BJP forms the next government -- since the President is duty-bound to invite the single largest party regardless of whether the Congress decides to bid for the post or not -- what will be the size of the Vajpayee cabinet? Smaller, or bigger than Kalyan's? I am not being facetious, so answer this in all seriousness please

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:31)

Arun Jaitley>> The Congress apparently has officially announced its bid for forming the government -- your comments? Could you indicate what your party strategy will be now?

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:31)

VikrnatB: There is no reason to believe at this stage that any particular minister, even without knowing his identity, that he would induge in any misdemeanour.

Rediff @ Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:31)

The apex Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet later today to decide who should be selected as the Congress Parliamentary Party leader.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:33)

Rediff-Congress>> So we will know the answer to that one today itself, huh? Cool... probably means they have made up their minds and now need the charade of a unanimous "election" before announcing it... :-)

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:34)

Ram: Let us analyse the Maharashtra results. The popular vote of the BJP-SS has only marginally declined a percent or two. The vote against us of three different parties has been polarised by an alliance. That is what has made the real even though it is very large in terms of seats. A one per cent swing can result in a loss of Manyu seats. It can't be a complete expression of no confidence.

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress Committee (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:35)

Mr Jaitley: How about completely closing Vajpayee's meetings instead of disclosing them? Spare us the melodramatics.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:35)

Mr Jaitley: Let me be frank. In Tamil Nadu there is nothing called the BJP front, it was the AIADMK front of which the BJP was a party. There can be no doubt that the AIADMK was the dominant partner, unlike your arrangement in AP. And the other members of AIADMK were not your allies, but Jayalalitha's.

Frankly, I find it inconceivable that the MDMK or PMK will support the BJP, to which they are ideologically opposed. And Swamy! Even you can't deny that he makes for a better enemy and a worse friend. So you need more support than what the figures reveal, don't you?

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:37)

Rgnath: In a hung Parliament or a hung assembly a re-polarisation of political forces is inevitable. the country needs a government, it needs governance. We have got the best mandate to provide the government. Should we run away from our responsibilit? Simply because 15 MPs of smaller groups supporting us will be called horse-trading by our opponents? And who are these people who will accuse us? Just as in UP, Mr Jagdambika Pal the 36-hour wonder in power, a self-confessed horse who got traded in the first round, accused Kalyan Singh of horse-trading.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:39)

Meanwhile, fodder for armchair analysis: Vote share of the two leading parties: In Maharashtra, the Congress got 45%, the same in Rajasthan, 43% in Delhi, 41% in Orissa. For the BJP, the top states are Delhi 51%, Gujarat 47%, MP 45% and Rajasthan 42%. Do remember the UP figures are yet to be tabulated.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:39)

Amar: We won't mind loving those who have traditionally been non-Congress and have now been sufficiently been loved by the people who have elected them... Who are we to reject them once they have a popular mandate behind them. In politics you would rather make friends, more friends, rather than strengthen your opponents. With regard to S Swamy we would rather avoid any personality-based comments.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:41)

Sai: Smaller cabinets equal to 10% to the strength of the legislature are desirable. In fact, they are preferable but once the nation votes a hung Parliament, though this one is only a marginally hung parliament certain limitations of the political process reflect on the size of the government.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:45)

Mr Jaitley: You have carefully sidestepped my question on the size of the Vajpayee cabinet. Will it be bigger than Kalyan's? Yes, or no?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:45)

Archana Dalmiya>> Hey, just curious -- how come all political parties talk of women's representation, even reservation, in Parliament but when it comes to giving seats, there is a huge gulf between precept and practice?

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress Committee (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:45)

Mr Jaitley: If Mr Vajpayee forms the govt, what portfolio are you looking at?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:46)

Another interesting statistic -- 105 sitting MPs have lost out of 219 who contested. Seems to indicate that the people are not exactly satisfied with their representatives, you think?

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress Committee (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:47)

Prem: The Cong anyway has given more seats than any other party. The Cong has given 39, BJP 29 and the rest about 3 and 4 each.

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress Committee (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:50)

Neelam: Welfare for women, including yours...)))

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:50)

Archana>> So how long, do you suppose, before the 33% promised by all parties is actualised?

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:50)

Archan: the Sonia factor was merely internal to the Congress politics. It only enthused the campaign of the party, added visibility to its campaign and prevented further disintegration, but in the larger perspective it never helped them win many seats. The Congress alone had 141 last time. Without allies, that is Laloo and the UDF it won't cross 150. The pre-Sonia opinion polls in India Today and Outlook gave Congress about 155 without Laloo. The Sonia campaign was devoid of political substance. It was an irresponsible hit-and-run campaign. It helped the BJP to pursue issues such as political corruption, read Bofors, dynastic succession, political inexperience. Moreover a person perceived as a foreigner by birth, a foreign citizen till 17 years after marriage, and Indian for 13 out of 52 years aspiring to lead India was an affront to the national pride of this country. Without being disrespectable to the lady it was a legitimate political issue in the minds of most Indians. In the larger perspective Sonia's entry into the Congress will help the BJP in two ways. Firstly it will continue to render the Congress into a crowd around a family rather than an issue-based, ideology-based political party. Secondly there is strength in terms of votes even in anti-Congressism. The entry of a politically vulnerable member of a dynasty into politics will crack the iron curtain of anti-BJPism which Mr. Kesri and Mr. Surjeet are planning. Once the choice is between Sonia and the BJP, on a long-term basis, we are on velvet.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:52)

Mr Jaitley: Overall, I think your party has lost more than the Sena did in Maharashtra, right, since you contested more seats than them? Can you deny that more than the consolidation of non-saffron votes by the Congress, the voters are also not happy with the three years of BJP-Sena rule? I am not saying the state government should hence be dismissed, but if you two don't realise that if you pull up your act in the next two years when assembly elections are due, then 1999 will spell trouble for the combine -- provided Sharad Pawar lets it last till then. Your comment please.

Arun Jaitley (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:52)

The BJP is the best claimant for the mandate. Any effort to hijack the mandate will leave a scar on India's democratic polity. It will defy the sense of fairness of the Indian people, who in every successive election has proved far cleverer than political parties or leaders.

Archana Dalmia, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress Committee (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:54)

Mr Arun Jaitley: Sonia Gandhi is more Indian than any of us Indians. Just because she made all of you in the BJP insecure and since you had no other issue, except to be obsessed by her, you have constantly indulged in mud-slinging and in attacking her. You forgot the existence of any of the other leaders of the Congress and only focussed on her. Shows how insecure she's made you. Fancy being scared of a person you consider a foreigner.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 4:55)

What with the TV crews practically breaking down our door, Mr Jaitley had to leave. He has a very busy schedule tomorrow, but has said he will try to be here for at least five minutes if it is possible.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:10)

Hello everyone, I am ready for your questions.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:10)

Welcome to all from Dr.Maitreyan, state Vice-President, BJP.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:11)

Dr Maitreyan, welcome to Rediff Chat -- what is your reaction to the Congress statement that it will make a bid to form the next government?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:12)

Mr K C Pant>> How, at this point of time, do you see the political situation?

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:13)

I think the next 5-10 years are going to be very crucial for the country's development. For instance, a lot of pressure is going to be applied by developed countries on developing countries including India in the matter of intellectual property rights and the WTO. Similarly, there are questions related to national security. On which also we may expect pressure to be applied. National interest threfore requires that we should have a strong and stable government at the centre. And that only BJP and its allies can provide.

Dr. Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:14)

The BJP-AIADMK alliance had a landslide victory in TN. The people of TN are known for voting decisively without any ambiguity. In 1991, they overwhelmingly supported the AIADMK-Congress combine. In 1996, there was a landslide for DMK-TMC. The sweep for BJP-AIADMK combine in 1998 is because people of TN opt for a stable government at the centre with a Prime Minister who will act. In addition, they are concerned about the growing bomb culture which they feel should be curbed without any delay. Hence the present results are no surprise.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:14)

Mr Pant: Good evening, and welcome. How do you find the BJP's performance this time round? What do you think went wrong for them in UP, Maharashtra and Bihar, Rajasthan, where they have fallen short of the expected figures?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:15)

K C Pant>> To do so, the BJP has to first find the numbers -- where are they coming from?

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:16)

Prem: The results of the elections have given a verdict broadly in favour of the BJP and its allies, which together add up to nearly 250 MPs. That number does not constitute a majority, in a House of 543. But it is near enough to help the BJP to form a government. In any case, the next, party even along with its allies is far behind.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:17)

] Dr Maitreyan: Good evening. We have been having a discussion here about the TN outcome. A lot of chatters believe that it is the BJP which revived the AIADMK's chances in TN, while I held that the BJP could make gains because Jayalalitha's party acted as the catalyst. What is your perception? Can you please share them with us?

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:18)

Prem: It is natural that this question should be asked. But at this stage, it would hardly be prudent to give a clear-cut or precise answer.

Dr. Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:23)

Saisuresh: In an alliance, all partners benefit or suffer. BJP and the AIADMK share a large chunk of common vote bank which otherwise would have been split. Because of alliance with the AIADMK and other regional parties, the BJP has definitely made a deep impact and has been successful in reaching the last voter. To that extent, all the partners and AIADMK, in particular, have definitely acted as catalysts in selling the concept of a stable government under an able prime minister.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:23)

Saisuresh Swamy: I think the BJP has done well in both UP and Bihar. In these two states, their performance cannot be called below expectations. In Maharashtra, it appears that the electoral alliance cobbled together by the Congress party proved effective. In Rajasthan, the BJP's performance will have to be analysed carefully. In any case, in most states the incumbency factor has worked against the ruling party.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:25)

Now is the time for the actual number game to begin. Haryana Lok Dal of Chautala and his father the former deputy prime minister, the Tau, Devi Lal, with its four odd members have pledged support for BJP. Six more seats should come when independents like Maneka Gandhi get to the BJP gaddi. The rest, that is, the one-million dollar question now. But it may not remain so for long, feel leaders...

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:25)

The Congress performance during these elections have been good. No doubt, we had expected to get few more seats. But whatever the mandate people have given us, one thing is very clear that the mandate is in favour of secular forces. They have totally rejected the fundamentalist forces which have not got a majority in this election.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:25)

Vikram: You are absolutely correct. I contested as a BJP candidate in Madras South Lok Sabha in 1996 elections.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:27)

I joined the BJP after carefully considering the present political situation. And the adverse impact of political instability and a weak central government. National interest must take precedence over party interest. I felt that the need of the hour was to support the party which is most likely to form a stable government at the Centre. I therefore resigned from the Congress and extended my support to the BJP.

Another personal reason is that my wife is contesting as a BJP candidate. As a matter of fact she has won the election from Nainital-Baheri constituency in UP. I could not be indifferent to her election or its outcome. And I thought it would be dishonourable for me to remain in one party and support another. I therfore decided to join the BJP.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:27)

Mandar: In each election, one important issue place the key role. In this election, it is the issue of stability. All other issues were secondary. And, as far as stability is concerned, the UF govt was a miserable failure.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:29)

As the verdict is not in favour of one political party, there is a strong desire among the secular forces to come together and form a government. There is a very strong feeling that a Congress-led coalition should be formed which could evolve a common minimum programme and work out various programmes for development of the nation to improve the conditions of the poor and ensure all-round development and progress of the country. This is now looking a possibility.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:31)

Jijo: I think the CPP will be addressing this question pretty soon. Even Congress leaders have not expressed any opinion so far on the choice of the next leader of the CPP.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:31)

rgnath: The question of who joins the secular front will be decided after mutual discussion at various levels. And that will be after the complete verdict is known.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:32)

Mr Pant: Good evening, and welcome. How do you find the BJP's performance this time round? What do you think went wrong for them in UP, Maharashtra and Bihar, Rajasthan, where they have fallen short of the expected figures?

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:33)

Amar: I think the question is purely hypothetical. Because in the present situation is leading to formation of a government led by the BJP.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:33)

Rgnath: Even though your question is addressed to Ved Prakash, I will answer it. BJP on its own is not in a position to achieve simple majority and the results so far clearly show that AIADMK's tally is next to BJP with 18. Hence in the coalition ministry, AIADMK will also find a place.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:33)

TDP is the best bet for the BJP leaders here. "If they want to survive in Andhra pradesh they better come to us," is how the leaders react. With a projected tally of 252 BJP feels that it can comfortably romp home with the HLD, indepednets and TDP.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:34)

vaachi: We are world's largest democracy and our country is run by people who are experts in running the country in all respect. It is not being run by people who are trading in market shares.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:35)

Amar: Going by the relative strenghth of the various parties and groups as well as earlier precedents the President will certainly seriously consider inviting the largest party to form the government.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:37)

vikram: Thank you for for the regard shown to me by you. Even though I am a state office-bearer of the TN BJP, I am also a professional and that too a cancer specialist. Like me, there are any number of such people in BJP. In that way, BJP is a party with a difference.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:41)

vikramb: The Congress has an alliance with IUML for the past many years and this alliance had been working well. They have not done anything which could be called non-secular.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:41)

BJP is now banking on the TDP because the party feels that TDP would not be able to be a part of a Congress-led government. As the Congress is the principal opposition in Andhra, the TDP, essentially a regional party confined just to Andhra, would not be able to convince its rank and file to join a Congress-led government.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:47)

rgnath:In that way, in India, with a possible exception of the BJP, there is no single party or politician which has not been charged with corruption. Hence, the choice has to be necessarily restricted. Jayalalitha has only been charged but not yet proved a criminal. She is facing the charges in the court and will come out on her own.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:49)

rgnath: When a party is planning for an electoral battle, it plans for its allies. Sometimes it is able to get the allies it wants; sometimes, it does not. But it does not mean that any one of the steps could be termed a mistake.

K C PANT, FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER. (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:53)

EVERYONE: It was a nice experience chatting with you. See you some other time on the Rediff Chat.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:55)

Hello guys. Our man about town Ganesh Nadar just called to fill in on the press conference attended by the Maharashtra chief miniter, Manohar Joshi. The CM announced that the party chief, Bal Thackeray, has rejected his offer to resign. When newsmen asked him why he did not give his resignation to the governor, the simple chief minister said, "Because he would have accepted it".

Joshi also said there was no point in Thackeray changing his style of speech etc, refusing to accept that his abrasive style may have alienated voters. He attributed his party's poor showing to "over-confidence". After all, Joshi said, when you are in the Sena, it is but natural that you become over-confident.

Joshi said there was no fear of his government being dismissed in case the Congress formed the federal government, for in that case "they will have to dismiss a lot of other state governments as well". Independents, Joshi said, will not desert his government. You can read more about Joshi's press conference later, but this is the gist of what transpired...

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:55)

rgnath: Issues like Ayodhya, Artcle 370, uniform civil code etc will no doubt need a two-thirds majority but the present BJP government, if formed, can at least attempt good governance. Based on that, we can go to people next time for better electoral results.

Maj. Ved Prakash, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:56)

schivate : As I mentioned earlier, when we are planning for an electoral battle, we look forward for like-minded allies. Sometime we do get them and sometimes we don't. So, one cannot say that a step taken not to allign with Mr Hegde could be termed as a mistake.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:58)

Mr. Kanchan Gupta, former journalist and a BJP ideologue, will be with us shortly...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 5:59)

Sai>> That bit about Joshi provides scope for mirth -- I like it when a pol quite frankly admits that his letter was just a little gesture!

Rediff@Cyber Cafe (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:0)

That was K C Pant, a most charming guest. we are now waiting for Mr Arun Nehru who should be with us at 8 pm.

KANCHAN GUPTA (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:2)

hi. i am kanchan gupta. the bjp and its allies are set to touch anything between 250 and 255, but this is a trifle short of majority in the house. before and during the campaign, we had set our target at a full majority. had it not been for the reverses -- upset results -- in maharashtra and rajasthan, we would have hit bull's eye. but even with a combined tally of 250-255, we are set to form the government. the gap is, as i would describe it, a coverable distance.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:4)

Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal: Under the Constitution, there is nothing specific, the President can exercise his discretion, which means he can look even at past experience. Sibal says the President does NOT have to call the single largest party, it is not a cast in stone rule.

KANCHAN GUPTA (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:4)

as you know the congress has announced its decision to stake its claim to form the government. this is delightful. the party has not even touched the 200 mark. obviously it is banking on the marxists getting some sections of the uf to back the congress. but this trick wont work this time round.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:4)

Dr Maitreyan: Good evening. We have been having a discussion here about the TN outcome. A lot of chatters believe that it is the BJP which revived the AIADMK's chances in TN, while I held that the BJP could make gains because Jayalalitha's party acted as the catalyst. What is your perception? Can you please share them with us?

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:5)

rgnath: I do not think Ganeshan has been properly quoted. Kalyan Singh has convincigly proved the majority in the floor and hence no question of his leaving office. Of course, BJP demands the immediate removal of Bhandari from office.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:5)

Sibal further believes that if the Congress and the United Front give in writing that either will support the other's bid to form the government, then it will become very hard for the President to ignore that claim. By the same token if a section, at least, of the UF goes the BJP way, then the same applies, the President will need to go with that claim.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:6)

Prem: Yes, he is right. Under the Constitution, the President has enormous discretionary powers, although it is a questionable point how many previous incumbents have used their discretion:-) But as I wrote recently, this incumbent is different.

Rediff team @Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:7)

As the evening progresses, the crowd has once again thinned. Not much is expected here. The CWC is expected to have a meeting only after MPs return from their constituencies.

KANCHAN GUPTA (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:7)

kapil sibal's comment on president not necessarily calling the largest single party as there is no constitutional provision for this. true. but this is convention underlined by the sarkaria commission report. in any case, in a situation where no party or pre-determined group of parties has a majority, what should the president do? invite the smallest single party? invite the congress which has performed, over all, in such a pathetic manner?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:8)

Further, Sibal thinks that the President can give whichever group he chooses a maximum of up to ten days, stretching to two weeks, to take a floor test to prove majority.

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:9)

sawants: BJP will never give up its basic ideology. However, in the present political scenario, we have to necessarily do some temporary compromises.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:9)

KANCHAN GUPTA>> Kapil argued the converse, that the President could even think of what happened the last time the single largest party was given a chance -- reminding everyone that that experiment lasted 13 days. Comment?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:10)

Rediff-Congress>> Hey, weren't they supposed to choose the CPP chief today? I thought that was what Ghulam Nabi Azad said?

Dr.Maitreyan (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:10)

rgnath: I prefer to phrase it as "RSS will be our guiding force".

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:12)

Okay, it is Soli Sorabjee on the same subject: Sorabjee says there is no inflexible rule saying the largest single party should be called, but logically the largest party in a democracy should get the same chance. Further, Kapil Sibal believes there is no difference between a pre-poll and post-poll alliance, while Sorabjee believes there is a world of difference.

KANCHAN GUPTA (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:12)

sawant: good governance is a concept that is integral to our philosophy. it is the core of our belief. therefore, we are committed to it; under no circumstances can there be any compromise on this front. apropos your comment on shiv sena and jayalalitha, i think they are rather sweeping. jayalalitha, we must remember, is yet to be proven guilty of any of the charges that have been hurled at her.

as for the shiv sena, merely to say that it is corrupt is neither here nor there. i would assert the fact that wherever we are in power, we have managed so far to be charged with specific corruption charges. i will get back to you later in the evening as i have to rush off for a discussion. bye for the time.

Rediff team @Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:13)

Prem: The CWC was supposed to meet today. But they have apparently rescheduled the meeting as many of the senior leaders are away from the Capital.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 6:13)

Prem: Even as the UF and Congress give love letters to the President, he is not duty-bound to invite them over the claim of the single largest party. The matter is different if the two parties fought the elections together, but in this case since the Uf and the Congress had been at each other's throat, the President need not consider their claim ahead of the BJP's. In 1989, if we recall, the JD fought the elections in league with the LF and the BJP, and yet the Congress emerged as the single largest party. It was only after Rajiv Gandhi told then president R Venkatraman that his party would sit in the opposition that he invited V P Singh to form the government...