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Cong may form national alliance, coalition in UP
Srinagar, May 31: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today hinted at the possibility of forming a national coalition against communal forces and said a
Srinagar, May 31: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today hinted at the possibility of forming a national coalition against communal forces and said a "grand alliance" with Mulayam Singh Yadav`s Samajawadi Party and Ajit Singh`s RLD in Uttar Pradesh was also feasible.
"At the national level, we are open to working with
secular parties to defeat communal forces," she said at a
press conference here at the conclusion of the two-day
conclave of Congress chief ministers here.
As far as coalitions in the states are concerned, she said "it is in the hands of the chief ministers and PCC presidents. They will give us their inputs.”
With regard to UP where 12-member RLD has pulled out of the BSP-BJP government, she said there was a possibility of Congress extending support to Samajwadi Party to form an alternative government in the state.
Asked if the Congress could be part of a "grand alliance" with Samajwadi Party and others in the state, she said "we have an open mind".
Gandhi said she had meetings with Ajit Singh, Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh, who met the governor demanding the dismissal of the Mayawati government.
"The situation is still fluid and the governor is yet to respond," she said.
Whenever a question was asked in Hindi, Gandhi replied in that language.
Admitting that her party`s base in UP was weak, she said a new PCC chief had been appointed and several programmes have been undertaken at the organisational level to strengthen it.
Accusing the Bajrang Dal and VHP of trying to create polarisation and "poison" the minds of people, specially in Congress-ruled states, Gandhi said "but we will face them."
To a question as to what would be the Congress` stand in case the party had to share power after the Lok Sabha polls next year, Gandhi said "this issue needs to be discussed at party fora and with leaders of other parties with whom we possibly want to work."
On the decision of the Rajasthan government to reserve 14 per cent jobs for the economically backward among upper castes, Gandhi said this was nothing new and in 1991 the Congress government led by P V Narasimha Rao had circulated an office memorandum for reserving 10 per cent.
She said this was also part of the Congress manifesto in the last assembly elections in UP and dismissed a suggestion that there were differences among Congress chief ministers on the issue. "They generally agree on it." Bureau Report
As far as coalitions in the states are concerned, she said "it is in the hands of the chief ministers and PCC presidents. They will give us their inputs.”
With regard to UP where 12-member RLD has pulled out of the BSP-BJP government, she said there was a possibility of Congress extending support to Samajwadi Party to form an alternative government in the state.
Asked if the Congress could be part of a "grand alliance" with Samajwadi Party and others in the state, she said "we have an open mind".
Gandhi said she had meetings with Ajit Singh, Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh, who met the governor demanding the dismissal of the Mayawati government.
"The situation is still fluid and the governor is yet to respond," she said.
Whenever a question was asked in Hindi, Gandhi replied in that language.
Admitting that her party`s base in UP was weak, she said a new PCC chief had been appointed and several programmes have been undertaken at the organisational level to strengthen it.
Accusing the Bajrang Dal and VHP of trying to create polarisation and "poison" the minds of people, specially in Congress-ruled states, Gandhi said "but we will face them."
To a question as to what would be the Congress` stand in case the party had to share power after the Lok Sabha polls next year, Gandhi said "this issue needs to be discussed at party fora and with leaders of other parties with whom we possibly want to work."
On the decision of the Rajasthan government to reserve 14 per cent jobs for the economically backward among upper castes, Gandhi said this was nothing new and in 1991 the Congress government led by P V Narasimha Rao had circulated an office memorandum for reserving 10 per cent.
She said this was also part of the Congress manifesto in the last assembly elections in UP and dismissed a suggestion that there were differences among Congress chief ministers on the issue. "They generally agree on it." Bureau Report