Shekhar, Gowda, Swamy in the reckoning

The Congress Party would accept any secular leader for the post (other than Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party) provided he can evolve a consensus in his favour in the Third Front. Since West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu has already declined the offer, three names including that of two former Prime Ministers – Chandra Shekhar and H D Deve Gowda – are being mentioned in this regard. The third name is of Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy.

Sensing early this morning that Mulayam Singh Yadav would not lend support to the Congress, Sonia Gandhi telephoned Chandra Shekhar to meet him. Thoughefforts had been earlier by R K Dhawan to soften Chandra Shekhar’s views towards the Congress, they had not succeeded. Therefore, Sonia herself took the initiative and talked.

However, Chandra Shekhar said that he held the Gandhi family in high esteem and would meet her at 10 Janpath. A touched Sonia insisted on coming. But Chandra Shekhar remained firm.

Sonia deputed ML Fotedar, R K Dhawan and Ajit Jogi to meet Chandra Shekhar and persuade him.

But he declined to relent and Sonia gave in. When Chandra Shekhar went and met her, they discussed Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and the general political situation in the country.

He said that he had known the family for four generations and had always called on them rather than allowing any of the Gandhis to come to his house for talks.

Later, some of the party leaders close to Chandra Shekhar including senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar, Dhawan, Digvijay Singh, Ashok Gehlot and others talked to him on phone. Mulayam Singh Yadav is reported to have met himtoo.

Deve Gowda who had been openly advocating installation of Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister, is also a hot favourite. Sonia Gandhi has been meeting him for some time. There is considerable soft corner for Deve Gowda in a section close to 10 Janpath.

Swamy has also thrown his hat in the ring and claims that he alone had pulled down the government.

However, it is for the Third Front parties to evolve a consensus. The Congress position is that it has 140 MPs who could give outside support to any person with secular credentials.