Off: BJP mask, Cong’s gloves

‘‘We have always said that the contradictions within the BJP and within the NDA will eventually bring the Vajpayee Government down. The contradictions are so extreme at the moment. If this is how they will conduct themselves, I don’t know where they will end up,’’ Sonia said at a press conference, her second formal one, marking the end of the two-day chief ministerial meet.

The significance of her remarks lay more in their subtext. For instance, she dismissed as ‘‘hypothetical’’ the possibility of forming a government in this Lok Sabha.

At the same time, she hinted that the Congress was ready to do business with dissatisfied allies of the BJP. ‘‘We have done it in the past, like with the Trinamool Congress. I see no harm in chatting to them and listening to their views,’’ she said.

Party sources said an informal discussion last night on the developments at Goa decided that the Congress should open channels of communication with the TDP and DMK.

Again, when asked whether the Congress was ready to lead a coalition government, she said: ‘‘Whenever the time is ripe, we will discuss this issue.’’

She did not mince words in attacking the BJP: ‘‘We have always known that the BJP is a communal party. They kept pretending otherwise. But the mask is pretty well gone now and they stand thoroughly exposed,’’ she said.

She was harsh on Prime Minister Vajpayee for challenging the Congress to bring down his government. ‘‘He makes such statements when his mental balance is disturbed,’’ she said.

Later, she clarified that what she meant was that he made such statements when he lost his cool.

The BJP’s stridency at Goa seems to have come as a surprise for the Congress which expected Vajpayee to keep the hardliners at bay for a little longer to save his government. The party’s assessment is that Goa will change the course of politics.

The immediate challenge, of course, is the expected Assembly elections in Gujarat which will be the testing ground for the next Lok Sabha polls. The state elections will give the Congress an opportunity to check out whether its promise of governance can counter the BJP’s Hindutva slogan.

Congress leaders feel the results will inexorably push the country towards a mid-term poll. ‘‘If the BJP loses Gujarat, the Vajpayee Government is finished. If it wins, then also the Government may fall because the RSS may want to go in for immediate elections at the Centre,’’ said one leader.

There was hectic activity at Guwahati late last night after the Goa news came in. Sonia met with a core group of aides including general secretary in charge of Gujarat, Kamal Nath, and Ambika Soni.

She personally talked over the telephone to the party’s Gujarat leaders, CLP leader Amar Sinh Chaudhary, PCC chief Naresh Rawal, CWC member Ahmed Patel and Lok Sabha MP Shankersinh Vaghela.

They were tapped for their assessment of the Congress party’s chances if polls were held immediately. They were also told to rev up the party machinery and begin poll preparations.