The Hindu : Deshmukh to pay the price?

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Sunday, Jun 09, 2002

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Other States - Maharashtra

Deshmukh to pay the price?

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI June 8. A formula to persuade the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) and the CPI(M) to return to the Democratic Front to help it retain power in Maharashtra, is on the anvil.

Accordingly, the return of the five PWP and two CPI(M) members to the ruling Democratic Front, coupled with disqualification of the Nationalist Congress Party rebels and winning back of some independent MLAs can prevent the Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP combine from staging a comeback.

Sources said the formula includes changing the leadership of the Democratic Front, redrawing its common minimum programme and giving more clout to the Front's coordination committee whereby the smaller parties will have a greater say.

A section of the Congressmen and the PWP are working on the idea, putting forth their unique selling point that it would prevent the Shiv Sena-BJP combine to benefit from the crisis and the sacrifice of the Congress Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh would be a comparatively small price to pay.

A lot depends upon what view the Governor, P.C. Alexander takes but the proponents of the formula believe that the leadership could be changed without much problem if the Vilasrao Government puts in its papers before June 13 when it is scheduled to try its strength on the floor of the State Assembly.

A change in the leadership would give the Left parties a feeling that they effected a change without letting the saffron brigade get a whiff of power. The Congress has little to lose and much to retain.

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