Cong. welcomes SP's statement on Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 11. The Congress today welcomed the Samajwadi Party leader, Mr. Amar Singh's statement praising the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi. The party, however, was quick to clarify that too much must not be read into it. ``Our position remains the same, we are going ahead on our own, the priority is to add to our strength by building up our organisation,'' the AICC general secretary, Ms. Ambika Soni, said.

Ms. Soni said she welcomed the fact that the SP leaders' ``misconception and misunderstanding about Ms. Gandhi had been cleared.'' The development, according to Ms. Soni, was in keeping with the Congress party's belief that all the secular forces must come together to fight and defeat communalism which was the main enemy.

Significantly, Mr. Amar Singh not only stayed for the entire duration of the seminar on terrorism organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, but also followed it up with a phone call to Ms. Gandhi the next day to thank her for inviting him.

The change of heart, whether tactical or otherwise, did not happen overnight, according to sources. The SP leadership now realises that despite the gains it has made, it may still need the support of parties like the Congress. Even the Left parties, particularly the CPI(M), have been counseling the SP leaders to bury the hatchet with the Congress so that an effective campaign can be mounted against the BJP at the Centre.

The mood in the Congress, however, is in favour of the party concentrating on shoring up its flanks and rebuilding its base in the State. Congress leaders believe that the change of heart that has come about in the SP is an insurance policy which the party is buying with an eye on the post-poll scenario.

Their assessment is based on the belief that though the SP may emerge as the single largest party in the State, it would still be short of the numbers to form a government on its own and would need the help of others. Hence the bid for rapprochement with the Congress.

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Section  : National
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