Cong keeps all options open

The Congress is again gathering its wits to go for the kill in Uttar Pradesh. Party seniors spent most of Tuesday working out details of its Operation Topple Mulayam and trying to neutralise the CPIM, though unsuccessfully.

The Congress is again gathering its wits to go for the kill in Uttar Pradesh. Party seniors spent most of Tuesday working out details of its Operation Topple Mulayam and trying to neutralise the CPIM, though unsuccessfully.

Congress Working Committee CWC meeting on Monday night had decided to tread cautiously on the dismissal move, gather as much support as possible for the move and account for the eventuality of the President returning the recommendation. It was decided not to make the dismissal a 8220;prestige-issue8221; but go ahead nevertheless.

Party strategists involved in the process told The Indian Express that there will be no rethink. However, in order to take the CPIM along, the Centre may consider giving Mulayam an opportunity to test his strength on the floor of the House. 8220;If he manages to win majority it can only be through further violations of the Constitution and of the Supreme Court order of February 14. Let us see if the CPIM defends him then,8221; a source said. The other option of dismissing him within 8220;the next 24 hours8221; is also under active consideration.

The public support from V P Singh and Sharad Pawar has emboldened the Congress. Singh and Raj Babbar today met the President demanding dismissal of UP government. 8220;We told the President that the highest court of the land had declared the government unconstitutional and another trial of strength will only lead to further violations,8221; Babbar said, while Singh made a public appeal to the CPIM to drop its opposition to dismissal. Pawar said he 8220;will be part of any collective decision that the UPA will take on the issue.8221;

Within the Congress the discussions have been around details of the party8217;s UP strategies including modalities of imposition of President8217;s Rule. One key talking point was about making a strong case for dismissal. Though the party8217;s public campaign has been about how the SC verdict made the Mulayam government unconstitutional, there is an alternate view that the breakdown of Constitutional government should be established on a larger ground.

The second point is about the post-dismissal scenario. A section of the party feels prolonged Presidential Rule will boomerang on the Congress as anti-incumbency and has suggested immediate polls, soon after putting a fair administrative machinery in place.