BJP threat subsides
infighting
Sandesh Prabhudesai
11 June 2005
The infighting between the Congress and the Nationalist
Congress Party within the ruling Congress-led alliance cannot
lead to the collapse of the six-day old Pratapsing Rane government
as all the allies unanimously agree not to bring the Bharatiya
Janata Party back to power.
The repeated threats by the NCP to pull out of the government
thus appear to be nothing but bargaining tactics for cabinet
berths and influential portfolios.
Precisely this is the reason deputy chief minister Wilfred
de Souza, the local NCP leader, did not withdraw his support
even after not inducting Micky Pacheco in the cabinet on Friday.
Rane expanded his cabinet with seven Congressmen, including
those three who had quit the BJP in February and got re-elected
in the by-elections held on 2 June. Pacheco was the fourth
one responsible to topple the BJP government, but was not
inducted in the cabinet.
Tariq Anwar and Chagan Bhujbal, the NCP emissaries who flew
down here from Surat convention to resolve the crisis, insisted
once again that Pacheco be given the cabinet berth.
They appear to be satisfied with Rane’s assurance to
consult the high command on the issue and not in the mood
to topple the government by pulling out on the issue.
“We do not want to give chance to the BJP to come back
to power”, stated Anwar, expressing hope that the issue
would be resolved amicably.
The emissaries also flayed the rumour that the NCP was planning
to form alternate government with the help of the BJP by winning
over other Congress allies on their side.
Though local Congressmen are pointing out at Delhi rather
than commenting on the issue, local PCC president Ravi Naik
claims that none of the legislators, who had quit the BJP,
were assured a cabinet berth if they get re-elected.
De Souza as well as Pacheco however have publicly criticised
the Congress for betrayal while NCP president Sharad Pawar
has also described the act of non-induction as not adhering
to the coalition dharma.
Sources within the Congress however reveal that the real
fight is not for the cabinet berth but the influential town
and country planning portfolio that deals with the real estate.
The builders’ lobby from Mumbai is reportedly behind
the move, as they fear that the portfolio would go to Babush
Monserette, whom they are unhappy with.
Meanwhile, as a face-saving devise, deputy chief minister
de Souza has decided not to accept any portfolio, till Pacheco
is inducted in the cabinet.
Not withdrawing the support or not even quitting his deputy
chief minister’s post appears to be a clear indication
of the fact that the NCP is unwilling to take an antagonistic
line on the issue and topple the Congress-led government,
which has come back to power almost after four and a half
years.
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