No change in UF leadership says Surjeet

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has rejected a change in the leadership of the United Front which the Congress has demanded to settle the crisis following its withdrawal of support to the government.

Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of a special two-day session of the CPI-M Politburo, party general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet said it was understandable for the Congress to criticise policy issues, but it could not demand any change in the leadership of the ruling coalition.

''It is for the constituents of the Front to decide who should lead it,'' Surjeet, who has been trying to mediate between the Congress and the Front.

Surjeet said the Congress and the United Front could discuss any issue relating to policy matters and even suggested a ''mechanism'' for consultations.

However, he saw great hope in the ongoing talks with the Congress to find a solution to the crisis and said he has noted that the party has already come down one notch in its plans.

''From making a claim to form the government they have come down to demanding a change in the leadership of the United Front,'' he said.

Reiterating that there was no question of supporting any coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress, the Marxist leader, who is arguably the most influential force in the United front, said the Congress should realise the consequence of its withdrawal of support to the UF.

Criticising the Congress for its ''sudden withdrawal of support, Surjeet said the party would not be able to form a government at the Centre if the UF government collapsed. The UF constituents are in power in 10 states and the Congress in four states.

Surjeet wondered how the Union Budget and the Finance Bill for fiscal 1997-98 could be passed by Parliament before the prime minister sought a vote-of-confidence on April 11 as suggested by some parties. ''This is ridiculous," he said, "and the CPI-M will not be a party to any such scheme.''

The time has come, he said, for the Congress to realise that it is not on the right track and that withdrawing support to the United Front is no way to strengthen itself.

There was, he said, no way that the Congress can form a government except by aligning with the BJP or by splitting the United Front, which they cannot, Surjeet declared.

The CPI-M general secretary also rejected the idea of the United Front supporting a Congress government from the outside. ''Not after you have pulled down a government which we have already formed,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said on Thursday that political life has taught him to be ready for any eventuality and claimed that the present crisis has not surprised or shocked him.

The prime minister said that one could not retreat when faced with a situation of this kind. The remark came when reporters asked if he would retire from politics in view of the situation created by the withdrawal of Congress support to his government.