Congress president Sitaram Kesri yesterday hinted at the possibility of a poll pact between the Congress and the Rastriya Janta Dal to keep the communal forces at bay.
Answering questions on the possible alliance between the two parties, Kesri did not elaborate if the alliance would be at the national level.
Such a poll pact was not a new phenomenon and recalled the alliance that had taken place during the time of late Lalit Narayan Mishra.
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He said his main concern was to prevent the Bhartiya Janta Party from capturing power at the Centre. He also had a dig at the Left parties, particularly the CPM, and said it was no better than the BJP. Both the BJP and the Left are the enemies of the Congress.
Without giving an inklink of a mid term Lok Sabha elections, Kesri said he was never in favour of a coalition government as it had failed the nation. We supported the government since the Congress believed in avoiding political instability and keeping the communal forces at bay, he said.
The Congress president criticised the Deve Gowada government for humiliating Congressmen and maintained that he was forced to take harsh decision to withdraw support to his government as he could not tolerate the prestige of the Congress being downgraded. The Congress can not barter its prestige and self respect, he said.
Kesri praised I K Gujral and said that he was keeping the Congress leaders in good humour and maintaining a cordial relation with the party. However, he had reservations about functioning of certain ministers of the Gujral cabinet.
We will not destabilise the UF government since we are not hankering for power. He, however, said the Congress would definitely come to power. Congress had gained strength whenever the chips were down, he asserted.
According to him, corruption and communalism are two main issues facing the country but for his party communalism is bigger danger.
He defended the instalation of Rabari Devi as the Chief Minister of Bihar and said wives of different political leaders had become Chief Ministers but never an accussing finger was raised against them. I dont understand why the mediapersons are gunning for Rabari Devi. The present government is hardly one month old and it is too early to review the performance of the present government, he said.
He was not prepared to drawn into controversy and parried alle questions regarding Laloo Prasad Yadav and said that since the matter was sub-judice I shall not make any comment regarding Laloo if he is corrupt or not, he said
He categorically said that a chargesheeted person could continue to hold the public office till the guilt was not proved. He vehemently denied the allegations that he was in constant touch with Laloo Prasad Yadav and without naming Jagannath Mishra alleged that those who had taken benefits from Yadav were spreading this canard against me.
I have never visited Laloo Yadavs place for any favour but those who have written recommendation letters are out to malign my image he said.
He said that he could initiate disciplinary action against Mishra but I have preferred to adopt wait and watch policy. Referring to Mamta Banerjee the AICC president said she is a committed party worker, a firebrand leader and I consider her as my daughter and hoped that she will mend her ways.