Kesri's calls to Moopanar spread distrust in United Front about TMC leader

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Two telephone calls made by Congress president Sitaram Kesri to Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Moopanar were monitored by the United Front leadership and spread distrust in the ranks of the 13-party combine.

A senior UF leader admitted that some of his colleagues had confronted Moopanar over Kesri's telephone calls and inquired what they were all about. Moopanar, the UF source revealed, told the Front leaders that Kesri had simply made a couple of "courtesy calls" and there was nothing more to it.

However, the UF leaders was far from satisfied with Moopanar's explanation.

Asked how the UF leadership had monitored Kesri's calls to Moopanar, the UF source pointed out that the reins of government were still in the Front's hands and that Intelligence Bureau sleuths had reported the calls made between the Congress and the TMC.

Meanwhile, Kesri held a series of meeting with senior Congress colleagues at his Purana Quila Road home on Sunday to discuss the political situation. It is understood the discussions centered around the raw deal given to Moopanar by the UF leadership and how best the Congress could exploit it.

The Left parties, which played a key role in Gujral's election as UF leader and dumping Moopanar, have urged the Front not to take the TMC's decision to stay out of the government lightly.

Moopanar's action in opening up a channel with Kesri may eventually have ominous overtones for the Front's future, Left leaders are understood to have cautioned the UF leadership.

The UF leaders have since been trying to persuade Moopanar to change his mind and join the Gujral government. Moopanar decided the TMC would not join the government, after he was outwitted by the UF leadership in the race for the prime ministership.