The Hindu : Samata may go it alone in Gujarat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 28, 2002

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Samata may go it alone in Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 27. The Samata Party, a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, has begun preparations for the Gujarat Assembly elections amid indications that it may prefer to go it alone. It is also likely to finalise a plan to steer the party in the days to come at its National Executive and Council meeting in Rajkot between October 29 and 31.

The meeting would be the first after the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, re-assumed leadership last month, and apart from ratifying his election to the post, it is expected to finetune the thrust and direction for the party in the run up to the next general elections.

Apart from resolutions pertaining to the political, economic and the international situation, the party has decided to adopt one on communal harmony, a document that would later be circulated among all the political parties for a broad consensus.

Although the text of the resolution is said to be brief, party sources indicated that without referring to any incident or person, the text underlines the constitutional obligation on secularism and the need for all those in such positions to adhere to it.

An influential section of the party is wary of the `growing interference' of the Sangh Parivar and the `inability' of the BJP leadership to rein-in the restive elements in the Parivar.

Aware of the role it played in the formation of the NDA, a section of the party feels that considering the disquiet within the coalition there could be some new meeting ground among like-minded parties in the future.

The party would also firm up its position on the two important policies of the Vajpayee Government — disinvestment and labour reforms — both of which have been opposed by Mr. Fernandes. The Defence Minister's persuasion had resulted in the Government putting off disinvestment in public sector oil majors — HPCL and BPCL — by three months. Within the party there is a debate over the manner in which the issue was raked up.

On the issue of labour reforms, Mr. Fernandes has been insisting that unemployment has been responsible for most problems ranging from social unrest to militancy.

On the Gujarat polls, the party has identified 48 of the 182 seats where it could field candidates.

In its assessment, the party could gain in Saurashtra region where it has a presence.

Meanwhile, the suspended MP, Brahmanand Mandal, continues to trouble the party. This time around, he has sought to know the sanctity of the `invitation' to attend the Rajkot meeting which the party claimed was despatched to him erroneously.

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