UF readies for trial of strength in Parliament

Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has decided not to step down following the withdrawal of support by the Congress party but is gearing up to seek a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Talking to newspersons after an informal meeting of senior UF leaders at the prime minister's house, UF spokesperson S Jaipal Reddy said. ''There is no question of the prime minister stepping down and we are prepared for a trial of strength.''

Describing the Congress decision to withdraw support to the UF government as ''unfortunate'', Reddy said the UF is absolutely united and would face the situation squarely.

Meanwhile, the UF’s steering committee is meeting in Delhi on Monday to finalise the strategy to meet its worst crisis since coming to power 10 months back. All top UF leaders are expected to reach New Delhi by Monday, Reddy said. The steering committee meeting may also press for convening the second phase of the Budget session early, instead of April 21 as scheduled.

Reddy said the prime minister was in touch with leaders of UF constituents including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M Karunanidhi, Tamil Maanila Congress supremo G K Moopanar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the left party leaders and Asom Gana Parishad minister Bindra Kumar Baishya. All of them had assured the UF full support.

Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the steering committee meeting will be held on Monday afternoon after all UF leaders reach the capital.

UF sources claimed all the constituents of the 14-party group were in constant contact with each other. The Congress move, they said, only could benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party in trying to form a government at the Centre, at a time when the UF government was gaining popularity.

The action began on Sunday afternoon when Congress party president Sitaram Kesri handed a letter to President Shankar Dayal Sharma, withdrawing support to the government. The Congress Working Committee, in an emergency meeting, said it welcomed the step and authorised Kesri to formally stake claim to form a new government. But senior party leaders Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot, who were out of station, were not informed of Kesri's decision.

Pawar described the step as a "a bolt from the blue". Pawar had said on Saturday that the Congress was planning some action, but had added it would move cautiously. Pilot only knew of the decision when he returned to the capital from the North-East.

Other Front sources said the UF expected some Congress MPs to extend support to their government. This view gained currency after Kesri ensured other senior Congress leaders did not know of his plan.

Meanwhile, DMK chief Karunanidhi discussed the matter with Moopanar at his residence for half-an-hour. While Karunanidhi avoided comment, Moopanar said both their parties stood behind the UF government. To a question, he replied that the TMC would not support the Congress to form a government.

The Left parties felt the UF should be allowed to resolve the problem on the floor of the Lok Sabha. The Communist Party of India-Marxist Politburo is meeting on Monday to discuss development before the steering committee meeting begins. CPI leaders are also holding meetings to discuss the matter, sources said.

Rediff On The NeT has invited Somnath Chatterjee, the distinguished parliamentarian and leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist in Parliament, for a Chat to discuss the current political developments. Check out the Rediff Chat at 2000 hours IST, (0930 hours EDT), April 1.