The Hindu : People's Front dissolved, Left to enter fray

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 13, 2002

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People's Front dissolved, Left to enter fray

By Our New Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI JUNE 12. A presidential contest appears inevitable after the Left Front announced its decision to put up a candidate against Abdul Kalam, the ruling National Democratic Alliance's choice. The Congress, on the other hand, has yet to make up its mind on whether to support Dr. Kalam or to join hands with the Left in opposing him.

The split in the Opposition camp that manifested itself on Tuesday (when the Samajwadi Party broke ranks) today led to the dissolution of the People's Front, a combination of the Left parties, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Samajwadi Party.

"The Front is no more,'' announced the CPI (M) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, and his CPI counterpart, A. B. Bardhan, at a press conference here. "The Samajwadi Party is out of the Front. Mulayam Singh Yadav is no more the convener of the Front,'' Mr. Surjeet said. However, both the leaders claimed that the combination would be "reorganised'' after Mr. Yadav went against the other constituents and decided to support Dr. Kalam. More parties would be drafted to forge a "third alternative.''

For the Left, it is a matter of principle that the NDA candidate be opposed. A joint statement by the Left leaders read: "Who will be the President is a serious political question. Since the NDA is going ahead with its candidate, the Left Parties are of the view that it must be opposed. All those who are concerned with secular, democratic values expect the Opposition parties, including the major opposition party, Congress, to join this political contest.''

The Congress camp, however, was reported to be divided. The Congress Working Committee met in an "informal'' session and decided that the process of inner consultation should be widened to include the Chief Ministers.

Though the CWC had earlier authorised the party president, Sonia Gandhi, to take all decisions vis-a-vis the presidential elections, Ms. Gandhi, according to the spokesman, Jaipal Reddy, felt "the need to have wider consultations and more inputs before taking a decision.''

Stating that the "single biggest party in the country and the single biggest component in the electoral college for the office of President'' would not be hurried into making up its mind on the "highest constitutional office'' of the country, Mr. Reddy asserted that the Congress would not be led by any other party.

He was quick to clarify that the Congress would continue to have discussions with like-minded parties.

Tight-lipped about what transpired at this morning's CWC — which lasted 50 minutes — Mr. Reddy sought to explain the delay in arriving at a decision to the absence of many members. "Since the CWC was convened at a short notice, only those members in town could attend it.'' Also, Ms. Gandhi thought it best to consult the Congress Chief Ministers as had been done before the party settled on suggesting the President, K. R. Narayanan, for a second term.

Maintaining that the party would finalise its strategy within a day or two, he said: "Time is not being lost. There are still 12 days as the last date for filing nominations is June 24. It does not mean we'll take all 12 days, but there is no hurry.''

On reports of the Kerala Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, informing Ms. Gandhi that he was favourably inclined towards Dr. Kalam, Mr. Reddy pleaded ignorance, just as he did when asked if the former Chief Justice of India, A. M. Ahmadi, was being considered a probable for the contest. Similarly, he stonewalled questions on the "fallback option'' that he had spoken about a couple of days ago in the eventuality of Mr. Narayanan refusing to contest.

Refusing to comment on whether Dr. Kalam was fit to be President, all that Mr. Reddy was willing to say was: "He's an eminent scientist; has made a notable contribution; and is a man of repute.'' Also, Mr. Reddy was of the view that no political group should claim a presidential candidate as its own.

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