Congress aims to cut allies to size

By M H Ahssan

Congress has for some time now suspected that the ‘social justice’ elements of the UPA may review their options after Lok Sabha elections, with an open mind on a ‘Third Front’, or may even erect a ginger group to dictate terms to Congress.

The party’s decision to chart an independent course from SP and RJD evolved from the view that the Yadav duo was trying to persuade it to contest on a small number of seats in UP and Bihar to maximise their own chances of winning a good tally. Congress strategy to contest against SP and RJD in full force seems aimed to reduce the regional satraps to the extent possible to weaken their post-poll bargaining muscle.

Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad are faced with a strong challenge from Mayawati and Nitish Kumar, and Congress feels its decision to contest as an independent player would divide ‘secular votes’ and hurt the Yadavs more.

If the objective to hurt ‘secular’ allies seems cold and calculating, sources said it is because the leadership got a whiff of plans that allies swearing by Sonia Gandhi may not be as loyal after the elections.

An inkling of the alternative plans among the ‘social justice’ champions came during the railway budget speech when Lalu said that national parties, BJP or Congress, were passe and it was the time of regional parties.

Lalu’s words were not passed off as mere bluster aimed at domestic constituency of Bihar as it tied with the aggressive stance taken by SP leadership as well as by NCP all this with Left parties already screaming for a non-Congress ‘secular’ government.

While the strategy runs the risk of spoiling pro-UPA sentiment at the stroke of elections, sources said it was predicated regional parties would be open to joining the Congress-led coalition if the lead player of the UPA. It is felt that regional parties, like AIADMK and JD(U), have made up their mind to join the Centre irrespective of the main player, and Congress would have an edge in wooing such allies from outside the UPA if it emerged as the single-largest party with a decent enough tally. In the scenario, even deserters like PMK, MDMK, RJD and SP would come in.