United Front ready for dialogue with Congress: Naidu...

And other acts in the political theatre, circa April 2

United Front steering committee convenor and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu says the Front is ready for a dialogue with the Congress to sort out any problem. Naidu, however, ruled out any change in the UF leadership.

"There is no question of change of leadership," Naidu told reporters on his return to Hyderabad from New Delhi. "We are all prepared for a dialogue on any other problem." Besides, he added, it was for the Front's 13 parties to decide on the leadership and not the Congress.

He also ruled out any possibility of the Front having an understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "We don't want to have any truck with the BJP, a communal party. We are not going to walk into their trap, but the Congress may fall into it."

Meanwhile, trouble for Naidu in a different form came when life in AP was affected following the Congress-sponsored state-wide bandh in protest against the ruling Telugu Desam Party's 'failure' to implement its poll promises including prohibition.

Shops, hotels and other business establishments remained closed in Hyderabad and most towns in the state, while work in government offices and banks was affected.

Income tax action vindictive says Congress

The Congress plans to appeal to the income tax department against the decision to slap a fine of Rs 240 million for failing to file income tax returns.

The income tax department notice was received at the party headquarters on Tuesday, party sources said.

Congress sources said the party has already filed returns for last year with regard to 50 per cent of its units. Fifteen out of the 28 state Congress committees have filed their returns. The party has as many as 600 district Congress committees which also have to file their returns. "It is a stupendous task which could take considerable time," the sources said.

The Congress, they alleged, has been singled out merely to ''damage its reputation.''

Mulayam rally in Deve Gowda's honour

The United Front's constituent, the Samajwadi Party, will hold a rally in Etah on Monday, April 7 to express solidarity with Prime Minister Deve Gowda.

Deve Gowda will address the rally which will be attended by SP president and Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, CPI-M general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet and some other UF leaders.

The rally assumes significance in the wake of speculation in some Congress circles that Yadav may be a catalyst in changing the UF leadership.

Sources said the rally has been organised to demonstrate unity during the current crisis looming over the Deve Gowda regime.