The Hindu : Cong. claims support of 41 MLAs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

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Cong. claims support of 41 MLAs

By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI OCT. 15. Even as various combinations and permutations are being tried out by the three main contenders for power in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress central leadership is quite confident of being invited to form the government first as "we have the support'' of 41 MLAs in the new Assembly.

While the issue of chief ministership remains the bone of contention, the Congress is hopeful of bringing round the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The optimism hinges primarily on the belief that the PDP would not like to be seen as a stumbling block in the formation of a government to keep the National Conference out.

Stating that it was a "war of nerves'', and conceding that there were parallel efforts to woo some PDP MLAs, senior Congress leaders said they would rather have Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's party as an ally than a foe in deference to the indecisive verdict. As for ideological differences with the PDP — which is seen to be soft on terrorism — the Congress' contention is that even the Kashmir-based party would have to rethink its promises once it dons the mantle of governance.

With the National Conference also throwing its hat in the ring, a major concern for the Congress pertains to keeping its flock together. Beginning with 20 on the day of counting, the Congress today claims a strength of 21 as its own with one independent — who fought the elections with its backing — joining the party.

Then there are the six independents who have given a written undertaking and have become associate members of the Congress. Add to this the four MLAs of the Panthers Party whose leader, Bhim Singh, met the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, on Monday and pledged his support on the condition that the Chief Minister should be from the Jammu region.

This apart, the Congress is claiming the support of 10 independents including those who have come together to form the People's Democratic Forum. "This takes our number to 41 — three short of the required 44 — and we hope the Governor will call us first.'' Should the Governor do so, the Congress is confident of winning the numbers game.

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