UF gives guilt trip to Naidu

Naidu, sources said, didn’t know where to look. As the grilling continued, Left leaders grimly reminded him that as the “chief architect of the Third Force”, with what face would he now continue the battle against communalism?

They argued that whoever had “ruled Andhra for the last 50 years” had stayed in power either with the support of the minorities or the Left. If he went with the BJP now, Naidu was told, he wassure lose out on both counts. “That is the statistical reality. For the first time you will be pushing away both groupings,” the leaders said. Turning the knife, they added, “What credibility will you have left?”

A crestfallen Naidu, soon after, escaped back home to Hyderabad, begging the UF to give him time till March 16 to persuade his recalcitrant MPs. He is also believed to have talked to friends about his terrible dilemma: How he was the “kingmaker” last two times around, but was now being veritably accused of breaking the UF.

In his own defence at the meeting, meanwhile, Naidu marshalled all the arguments he has used before: That he could not change the TDP’s stand on “abstaining” when the BJP government sought a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha. that since the Congress was his main rival in the state, he couldn’t been seen to helping them to assume office.

Naidu was also offered a way out of this impasse. Not only must he vote against the BJP, but he could also vote against theCongress if such a situation came to pass. Left leaders also privately pointed out that in such an event, they would likely abstain themselves.

Prime Minister I K Gujral also told Naidu that since he was the UF convenor he should come forward with some formula which would keep the coalition intact. Naidu said the UF should reiterate its commitment to maintaining equidistance between the Congress and the BJP.

When some others pressed for a resolution stating the UF would vote against the BJP, the TDP leader protested, saying such a resolution should also spell out its opposition to the Congress.