Sonia tests waters, to gather anti-BJP forces

There have been some straws to indicate which way the wind is blowing. One, there was the 75-minute meeting between Sonia and Mulayam yesterday which was described by the Congress as ‘‘significant’’. The two leaders were accompanied by Manmohan Singh and Amar Singh. In recent weeks the Congress had skirted around the issue of helping Mulayam’s attempts to form a government.

Two, the Congress had yesterday sought the DMK’s support for the Feb 26 Sathankulam bypoll in Tamil Nadu. Today, AICC secretary incharge of Tamil Nadu Ramesh Chennithala reiterated his party’s appeal to secular forces to support it. State Congress leaders in Chennai had attended the all-party meet called by M. Karunanidhi, which decided to protest against the arrest of DMK legislator Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and the AIADMK’s policies.

This marks a softening of the Congress’ stance towards the DMK. So far the DMK, with its association with the LTTE, held responsible for Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, has been an untouchable for the Congress. The party had brought down the I.K. Gujral Government in 1997 for refusing to dump the DMK.

And three, there was the launching of the People’s Integration Council, ostensibly a non-party forum but a group which is geared to bring together the non-BJP parties. The meet, where Sonia gave the key note address, was attended by SP, RJD, Left parties, Lok Janshakti and other groups.

Ambika Soni, Sonia’s political secretary, was tightlipped about what transpired at the Sonia-Mulayam meeting, but said: ‘‘The Congress has always stood for the consolidation of secular forces.’’ As far as an alliance with other parties was concerned, she said: ‘‘An alliance can only take place after a realistic assessment of the ground realities in different states.’’

The Congress already has an alliance with the RJD in Bihar, the NCP in Maharashtra, the PDP in J-K, and with several smaller parties in Kerala. The TMC has merged with it in Tamil Nadu.

The Sonia-Mulayam meet, which was reportedly fixed even before the Congress split in UP, was necessitated by a mutually felt need. Both parties have to guard their respective flocks from a Mayawati on the rampage. Sonia could do with the SP help in the Feb 26 bypolls in Haidergarh and Gaurigunj, the latter falling in the Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi. As far as Mulayam is concerned, he has his eyes set on the Lucknow ‘gaddi’.

Both the SP and the Congress are considering the possibility — and more important the timing — of bringing a no-confidence motion against the Mayawati government when the state Assembly meets. However, there would be no point in bringing no-confidence motion if Mayawati has numbers on her side. The 15 remaining UP Congress MLAs called on Sonia today, making reassuring noises about staying on in the party.

Till not so long ago, Congress leaders were keeping their options open with regard to Mayawati but it is clear that this option is foreclosed, at least in the foreseeable future. After Priyanka Vadra took up cudgels on behalf of a Dalit in Amethi, Mayawati has been on the warpath. She has now made both the bypolls in the state Gaurigunj and Haidergarh — the seat was held by the Congress before Rajnath Singh was elected from here — a prestige issue.

Jayalalithaa too has made the by-election in Sathankulam a prestige issue. Her entire Cabinet is camping there, her MPs have been despatched to the constituency and the CM herself will devote 2-3 days there. The BJP, which had come second the last time, has left the field clear for the AIADMK in the hope of consolidating the Hindu Nadar votes. The DMK has also decided to stay away from the contest and this is being seen as an indirect help to the Congress.