Crisis in United Front blows over
The crisis in the United Front over the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's threat to pull out of the Gujral government appears to have blown over with senior DMK leader and
Industries Minister Murasoli Maran saying that DMK president M Karunanidhi's ultimatum was only intended to strengthen
the Front.
''We have only political problems with the Front leadership and
now I am confident that it will be resolved at the standing
committee meeting on Wednesday,'' Maran told a
news conference immediately after his 40-minute meeting with Prime
Minister I K Gujral.
The Tamil Nadu chief minister's warning was blown out of proportion by a
section of the press, Maran -- who is Karunanidhi's nephew -- said, adding that the question of the four DMK ministers resigning from the Gujral government does not arise. The DMK, he added, only wanted to administer a warning to the Front's constituents about the state of affairs and this had a ''salutory effect,'' on
them.
Ruling out the possibility of a mid-term poll following the
present crisis in the Front, Maran said the Gujral government would
continue for some more time. The minister was replying
to questions whether he shared the perception of former prime
minister H D Deve Gowda that elections are round the corner. ''I do
not agree with him on this," he said, adding "in any case
political parties have to be prepared to face elections any time."
Gujral set in motion the damage control exercise immediately
after the DMK shot off a missive about its intentions on Monday.
The prime minister spoke to both Karunanidhi
and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who is also the UF convener.
.
Describing as ''useful'' his discussions with both chief ministers, Gujral
said "there is no reason for anxiety."
While the prime minister held discussions with UF leaders, other Front
leaders remained in touch with one another, in an effort to resolve the
impending crisis at Wednesday's meeting.
Agriculture Minister and senior CPI leader Chaturanan Mishra hoped the crisis would blow over. ''It is a family affair and
difference of perceptions on various issues will be sorted out
amicably at Wednesday's meeting,'' he said.
Mishra said UF leaders were keenly watching the
developments in Bihar and there was no question of a compromise on
the corruption issue.
The Front's standing committee meeting will take up the contentious issue of entry
of the Rashtriya Janata Dal into the UF fold. A section of the
Janata Dal lead by Deve Gowda and the Left
parties are opposed to the RJD's entry till the Bihar chief minister tenders
his resignation. But the DMK and Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel are against pushing Laloo Prasad Yadav to the wall by rejecting
his offer to remain in the Front.
The Bihar CM's securing a vote of confidence in the
state assembly by a convincing margin on Tuesday has added a new dimension to
the ongoing tussle. Front sources do not rule out the
possibility of Laloo Yadav tendering his resignation now
that he has proved his strength on the floor of the House. Sources
said he is also examining the option of calling a mid-term poll on this
issue.
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