NEW DELHI, OCT 1: Notwithstanding Saturday's Congress Working Committee resolution which virtually served an ultimatum to the United Front Government, Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Congress president Sitaram Kesri hold regular consultations on issues of national importance and continue to maintain cordial relations.Sources close to Gujral said that the Congress-UF coordination committee may not be in existence but the frequency of the Prime Minister's interaction with Kesri is more than desired and spills beyond personal issues.To buttress their claim, these sources said the Prime Minister held long parleys with Congress president before his departure for the United States and met him twice after his return from New York. In fact, Gujral reportedly invited Kesri for a sumptuous dinner at his Race Course residence after the CWC adopted a resolution criticising the performance of his Government.Sources affirmed that before formally inviting US President Bill Clinton to visit India next February, Gujral had sounded Kesri. Perhaps the idea was to impress upon the Congress president not to rock his boat before Clinton's visit.Sources close to the Prime Minister revealed that he consulted the Congress before implementing the Pay Commission report and also while enhancing the hike in the pay and perks of the Central Government employees. Even the list of those being nominated to the Rajya Sabha was brought to Kesri's notice.Whether Kesri made any suggestions on these issues is not immediately known as the Congress president was not available for comment.These sources also pointed out that Kesri and Gujral meet almost once a week to share views on different problems. This is in contrast to Gujral's predecessor, H.D. Deve Gowda, who failed to develop a personal rapport with Kesri and lost power.Sources said Kesri's attack on the UF minus Gujral is part of a clever strategy to further isolate Deve Gowda in the Front. Since Gowda attacked Kesri personally, the issue may come up at the UF's core committee meeting on October 3.Gujral's supporters are disinclined to precipitate the issue while Gowda is keen for a showdown. The Front's response to the CWC's September 27 resolution will be discussed by the Congress again on October 15.
