There's a glint in veteran Marxist leader, Harkishen Singh Surjeet's eyes. The CPI(M) General Secretary has emerged as the chief mediator for opposition parties and says that once parties express a willingness to work together, government formation is an easy task. Surjeet discussed the political sweepstakes with RITU SARIN and chuckled the loudest as he recalled his role as kingmaker, picking Prime Ministers, as he hopes to do soon. Excerpts:So, is the BJP Government falling?This Government cannot stay. Nobody can save it. It is cracking under its own weight. But the BJP is still hoping against hopes. The Prime Minister is still trying to woo Jayalalitha. The BJP is prepared to compromise on any policy but not their position. Even when they are reduced to a minority when Jayalalitha goes (and she is going) even then they say they will get a majority. How? It will be through horse-trading, through the power of money.How will the arithmetic work? The ruling coalition will be reducedto 258 members after the exit of the AIADMK.They are 15 short of majority. I am counting (Om Prakash) Chautala for the time being. But I am not counting the Samata, BJD, the Akalis dissensions are there too and they are not going to unitedly face (Parliament). I know that.What about the DMK?I am confident that when the full situation is assessed, the DMK will vote for us. Our alliance with them is very strong and I do not think they can go out. The alliance is between the two communist parties, the DMK, TMC and Janata Dal.Why did Jayalalitha make her moves now?She was not satisfied. Earlier she thought that by scoring such a big majority she was scoring big points against the DMK, the TMC and others. Now she has seen the BJP's behavior and seeing how the BJP is trying to negate and disrupt her mass base.Have you been in touch with Jayalalitha?No, I have no direct relations with her.Why didn't you go for Subramanian Swamy's tea party?I was invited.But I told Swamy that since I was one of the figures interested in keeping the third alternative alive, I do not want to take any step that will create any compromise or confusion. I had a hunch that Sonia would go and it was also clear that once Sonia goes there is going to be a change in the political scenario. That there has been some rapprochement between her (Jaya) and the Congress and when she comes, it will be pursued further.Jayalalitha has publicly said the rule of a foreigner would be a great tragedy.The situation has changed. Jayalalitha is not saying this now. After Sonia has established her leadership in the Congress and its Parliamentary party and contributed something for the revival of the Congress, this question is no more relevant.That means you expect the DMK and AIADMK to work amicably to help a Congress-led Government?No, no. We are working for the third alternative. We are not going to merge and ally with the Congress party. We will support (from) outside ifit so happens. At the same time we have repeatedly clarified that our third alternative will continue to operate. You see the DMK and the TMC, perhaps, are very happy with the development of Jayalalitha and Congress coming together. Our thing is that we have not brought (them together). If the Congress comes too, what can we do? In this forum, one combination will be Congress and AIADMK and the other combination will be of five parties.So, five parties will give outside support and the AIADMK will be a partner in the government?This is what seems to be happening. And am not talking about a coalition. But I want this Government first to give way for the others. Let the Government go. Subsequent issues will be sorted out. This is a chicken-and-egg situation. While some parties (including the CPI(M) first want the Government to fall, others want an announcement on Prime Ministership.There will be no difficulty in this respect. I have held discussions with all the major forces. Amongstthem there is a common understanding.Who are you talking to in the Congress?I have met Sonia Gandhi many times. Then, Arjun Singh, Natwar Singh, Pranab (Mukherjee), Manmohan (Singh) they all talk to me.Sonia Gandhi has always maintained that the Congress should come to power with a mandate. By your formulae she will be inheriting the same contradictions and pressures that plagued the BJP. Won't she be against it?I did not get this impression. And let me tell you, there will be no pressures. What has been clear is that the Congress does not like to show that they, somehow, want to bring down the Government. But if the Government falls because of its own weight, they will have to shoulder the responsibility. This has been the consistent stand of the Congress which I am taking note of. There were some differences of opinion on this in the Congress but now they have fallen in line because the Government is going. What about Mulayam Singh Yadav? Has he agreed to giving outsidesupport?Mulayam Singh Yadav also. First he reacted differently in Lucknow. But when he came and discussed with me, we have come to one understanding. I do not want to say what, first let us bring down this Government.So who will be Prime Minister? Did Mulayam Singh Yadav raise the issue?No, he did not raise this question with me. And I don't want to say anything about who will be Prime Minister at this stage. Many people can aspire to be Prime Minister. I don't want to disappoint anybody. Last time (laughs) when people said Jyoti Basu and our party did not agree, I immediately proposed (G.K.) Moopanar. He said no. Then I saw (H.D.) Deve Gowda sitting there, a Chief Minister, and I said let him be. Everybody agreed. Nobody could have imagined this! You see, these things don't take time when the willingness to work together is there.Jayalalitha and Subramanian Swamy will want to extract their pound of flesh. Any demands on the horizon?We will take up that questionafterward. We are capable of tackling any demands. What's the game-plan once Parliament convenes? Will the Government fall on the floor of the Lok Sabha?No, no. My hunch is (it all depends upon Jayalalitha). But the line she has been pursuing is that once she withdraws support, the President has to immediately ask for a vote of confidence. This is the only method.You said the BJP was actively wooing Jayalalitha. Suppose she relents? Will your toppling game end?We are not toppling anyone. But as far as we are concerned, we are sure to get the majority against them. Even without Jayalalitha and the AIADMK. Even then. (Hesitatingly) I don't want to go into this now.but if this happens there is sufficient majority (scrutinises the chart of party positions I hand him.) You see, there are so many dissensions in the Samata Party, the BJD, the National Conference and the Akalis. Then there are so many ones and twos from the North-East. The BJP will be deserted by their own people. If thatdoesn't come (Presidential intervention) then these motions are there in Parliament. JPC is there. George Fernandes is there. It will express in voting.
