Stand on Bihar: Sonia lobbies for support

NEW DELHI, FEB 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is herself inclined to support the imposition of President's rule in Bihar on the grou...

NEW DELHI, FEB 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is herself inclined to support the imposition of President8217;s rule in Bihar on the ground that only fresh elections in the state can bring about political stability. But she is also keen to obtain the views of others in her party at the CWC meeting which may be held as early as Monday.

Since the Presidential proclamation has to be tabled in Parliament on the opening day of the session, the Congress cannot delay a decision any longer. The party8217;s support for the motion is crucial since the BJP-led Government does not have a majority in the Upper House.

Sonia has been holding parleys with party leaders on Bihar for quite some time now. Yesterday she called on ailing Sitaram Kesri who has been an ardent supporter of Laloo. But the removal of Tariq Anwar, a Kesri loyalist, from the post of AICC general secretary is an indication that she is not in tune with him on the issue. But at the same time, she does not want to burn bridges with Laloo as an alternativescenario has not emerged to her satisfaction in the state as yet.

Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC general secretary and in-charge of Bihar, is in touch with senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan and some Samata Party leaders. Paswan8217;s presence at Sonia Gandhi8217;s Iftaar and the latter8217;s visit to his Iftaar are no coincidences. Many in the Samata Party would not like to go with the BJP. Therefore, a possibility of realignment of political forces would emerge in the state once the Presidential proclamation is rectified and the Assembly dissolved.

It is with this objective in mind that the Congress is inclined to support the proclamation.

Sources say Bihar was among the issues that cropped up during Sonia8217;s 45-minute courtesy call on President K R Narayanan yesterday. Since the President had agreed to issue the proclamation after rejecting it earlier once, Sonia wanted to obtain his views.

These souces say Sonia often consults the President on important political issues since he has been close to the Gandhifamily.

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Meanwhile, party spokesman Ajit Jogi said the Centre was doing injustice to the people of Bihar by denying the promised 8220;good governance8221;. Asked about reports on a move to form a Congress government in Bihar with the support of the RJD, Jogi said the Assembly was in suspended animation and, therefore, there was no question of any party forming a government.

He said the Congress had nothing to do with the appointment of any person as Governor. It was for the Centre to appoint or sack Governors in states under President8217;s Rule, he said.