Venkataswamy is front-runner for UP governorship

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Senior Congress leader G Venkataswamy has emerged as the front-runner for the governorship of Uttar Pradesh as incumbent Romesh Bhandari may be transferred shortly in the wake of the controversy over his conduct.

Venkataswamy's candidature for the UP governor's post is now being discussed seriously among constituents of the ruling United Front.

Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his senior Cabinet colleagues are still grappling with the crisis resulting from Bhandari's disagreementwith federal Home Minister Indrajit Gupta about the law and order situation in UP.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had successfully demanded a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on Bhandari's recall. The Left parties, particularly the Communist Party of India, are also adamant that the UP governor be removed.

Bhandari's fate now appears to be sealed with the Congress too supporting the move to remove him.

Asked about Venkataswamy's candidature for the UP governorship, Tariq Anwar, the Congress president's political secretary, said "Let us first resolve Mr Bhandari's case. The question of his replacement can come only after that."

However, a senior Congress leader pointed out that Venkataswamy had emerged as a front-runner since his candidature was being discussed as most suitable to all parties.

The Congress leader pointed out that apart from belonging to the scheduled caste community, Venkataswamy was acceptable to Defence Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav who is a major player in UP politics.

Venkataswamy's candidature for the UP assignment is learnt to have been cleared by Congress chief Sitaram Kesri. When Deve Gowda and his UF colleagues realised that Bhandari's exit was inevitable, the prime minister contacted Kesri. While convincing Deve Gowda about Venkataswamy's credentials, Kesri stressed that the Andhra Pradesh leader was also the founder-chairman of the SC/ST MPs Forum with a membership of at least 200 MPs.

Venkataswamy expressed surprise when this correspondent asked him if he was being considered for the UP governorship. "Is that so? It is news to me," he said.

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