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Cong. in a bind over RS poll

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI July 19. The Congress has enabled an independent, Suresh Keswani, to remain in the fray for the Rajya Sabha seat from Maharashtra, but its opposition now only amounts to a tokenism because apart from the Nationalist Congress Party, the main sponsor, both the Shiv Sena and the BJP remain committed to the former Governor, P.C. Alexander.

At best, the Congress has robbed Dr. Alexander of his satisfaction of "near unanimous support'' cutting across party lines.

The Congress, however, is yet to decide whether it should ask its MLAs to vote for Dr. Alexander or issue a whip in favour of Mr. Keswani, a former Air India director, who has had a term in the Rajya Sabha some years ago.

The moment he filed his nomination, Mr. Keswani was provided all support in the Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh's office, and he has had papers signed as a Congress candidate.

Soon after, it decided to project him as an Independent, though some eight Congress MLAs were asked to sign along with two reluctant Independent MLAs.

It wanted to hurt Dr. Alexander but did not know how deep the cut should be.

It appears that Dr. Alexander did not plead for Congress support to go to the Rajya Sabha but on the day of his nomination, he had publicly spoken of his disappointment and shock at the party not backing his Presidential ambitions. The party has several reasons: if he could not be supported for Rastrapathi Bhavan, he should not get any for a Rajya Sabha seat; Dr. Alexander did not ask prior to the filing of his nomination at the behest of the NCP chief, Sharad Pawar. A source said, "his name was sprung on us.''

A third strategic element is to show Mr. Pawar as moving closer to the NDA by obliging a man hurt at being pushed out of the Presidential race, where by Dr. Alexander's claim, "the NDA did its best till the very end.''

Soon enough, both the BJP and the Sena enthusiastically backed him.

The Congress feels that Dr. Alexander being an independent is only a ruse; he is seen as a joint candidate of the NCP, the BJP and the Sena, though each says he is an eminent person who served Maharashtra well.

Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

The Congress spokesman, S. Jaipal Reddy, told reporters in Delhithatthe party high command had left the decision to the Pradesh Congress Committee on whether or not to vote with its local ally, the NCP, in the RS bypoll from Maharashtra.

"The contest for the Rajya Sabha seat is between two independent candidates, P.C. Alexander and Suresh Keshwani whose nomination papers were signed by some Congress MLAs. Given the peculiar political climate in the State, the PCC has been asked to the take the appropriate decision.''

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