NEW DELHI, March 7: The swearing-in of a Congress government in Himachal Pradesh goes to reinforce the growing opinion that President K R Narayanan is going to invite the BJP - which is the single largest party - to form the government in Delhi.The Congress was the single largest party in the northern state even though the BJP and its ally Sukh Ram's Haryana Vikas Party, exceeded the Congress tally by one.V S Rama Devi's action is seen to reflect the mind of the President. It is felt that she would not have done what she did in Shimla without consulting the President. The toing and froing in the state went on for three days before the Governor swung into action and invited Virbhadra Singh.Rama Devi's proximity to Narayanan is no secret. She was Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha when Narayanan was Vice-President and Chairman of the Upper House. He was instrumental in getting her posted to Himachal Pradesh before he moved to Rashtrapati Bhavan.The BJP and the HVC together had 32 members in aHouse of 64, while the Congress had 31. Later, the lone Independent in the state assembly became an associate member of the Congress. The arithmetic for the BJP got skewed when one of its MLAs died suddenly.The 12th Lok Sabha may be a nightmare for the political parties, but it has eased the task of the President. Unlike last time, when parties were rushing to Rashtrapati Bhavan, so far no group has staked its claim. The pros and cons of inviting the single largest party apart - and this debate has been going on since 1996 - Narayanan does not have to contend with conflicting claims unlike his predecessor. When Shankar Dayal Sharma invited the BJP to form the government in May 1996, swearing in Atal Behari Vajpayee, he had the United Front (backed by the Congress) breathing down his neck. Some of the Front leaders even forgot the usual courtesies when they called on the then President to stake their claim.The President has to explore ways and means of installing a government even in a Parliament ashung as this one.Rama Devi gave an indication of the rationale for her actions when she reportedly made it clear that she was inviting Virbhadra Singh because he headed the largest party. She also questioned the BJP on whether its alliance with the HVC was a pre-poll one or was a post-election development. The message is not lost on the parties at the Centre.With Chandrababu Naidu having made it clear that he will not back the Congress, the Congress and the UF (minus TDP) do not have the magic numbers.Sharad Pawar has not yet given up and is trying to wean away Jayalalitha from the BJP but this is not going to be easy for the AIADMK chief who, during the campaign, sought votes in the name of Atal Behari Vajpayee.The anti-Sharad lobby in the Congress is also not making it easy for the Maratha leader. He has first to get past the most important hurdle in the obstacle race - and that is to clinch the CPP leadership. But indications are that 10, Janpath won't take a decision in a hurry. The issue maynot be resolved before March 12 when the President is expected to swing into action. A government in Delhi may be in saddle before the CPP leadership is decided on. Once the composition of the new Lok Sabha is notified, the Cabinet will tender its resignation leaving the President free to get on with the task of government formation.
