The CWC is the partys highest decision-making body and its members spoke almost as one, differing on tactics and strategy rather than the objective of divorcing their party from the United Front sooner or later. A resolution of the CWC said the meeting formally warned that the UF should not take support of Congress for granted.
The resolution stated that the meeting notes with concern certain developments which have taken place since the UF government came to power. It went on to criticise the UFs refusal to accept Mayawati as UP Chief Minister, the downturn in the economy and failures in foreign affairs. The CWC will continue to review the situation as and when it develops, the resolution concluded.
Supporters of Congress President Sitaram Kesari and those of PV Narasimha Rao, the leader of the Congress Party in Parliament, and members like Rajesh Pilot who are in neither camp, were on the same antagonistic wavelength vis-a-vis the UF.
Some members, led by UPCC President Jitendra Prasada, wanted that the Congress should withdraw its support right away, pleading that it was worth taking the risk of fresh elections. Others held that the ground should gradually be prepared, on a variety of issues, so that support could be withdrawn at an appropriate time.
The four Congress chief ministers who attended were more critical than most of the central leaders, saying the UFs constituents in the states were attacking them. They also complained that the Centre did not consult Congress chief ministers before appointing governors for their states. JB Patnaik of Orissa, Virbhadra Singh of Himachal, HS Brar of Punjab and SC Jamir of Nagaland were there. Digvijay Singh of Madhya Pradesh was abroad. Other special invitees were Pranab Mukherjee, G Venkatswamy and Tariq Anwar.
Rao, who has been seen over the past couple of months to be averse to any move to destabilise the Gowda government, did not strike a discordant note when most CWC members criticised the central government. Indeed, Raos staunch supporters, including Devendranath Dwivedi and BP Maurya, were among those who backed withdrawal of support to the UF government, albeit not immediately.
Both could have been influenced by the fact that they want to be nominated for the single Rajya Sabha seat from the state that their party can win. The MLAs, who will have to elect the partys nominee, are in a combative mood and want immediate withdrawal of support.
Some members said that the intransigence of the UF to accept the Congress demand for support to Mayawati should not be the partys sole reason for withdrawing support. K Karunakaran, for instance, told the meeting that government formation in UP should be kept separate from withdrawal of support at the Centre.
The resolution said that the CWC reiterates its commitments to continue its efforts for ensuring that Km Mayawati is chosen as chief minister of UP. To prevent BJP from forming government, the only course left to UF was to support the Congress proposal. But instead of following that course, they created a difficult situation in UP. In this situation, if BJP forms government in UP, the sole responsibility would lie on UF.
The resolution criticised the UF for not supporting the Congress-BSP alliance in UP before, during and after the elections and urged Congress members in the state to have patience and not to be provoked under any circumstances so that the hands of communal forces are not strengthened.
The resolution stated in what the AICC spokesperson called the most important and critical para: In a critical juncture of our national history, we extended support to UF and still feel there is a need of continuing cooperation among the secular parties to fight jointly against communal forces. Congress is fully aware of its responsibility towards achieving this goal but the UF, which made promises of secular commitments should be responsive to the need of the hour. It should not take support of Congress for granted or as a sign of weakness of the party or outcome of so-called compulsions. Congress has always fought against communal forces and would continue to do so in future. Congress calls upon the UF to change its attitude and instead of hurling abuses to the Congress take corrective steps and try to fulfill the commitments which they have made to the people of this country at the time of forming the government at the centre. CWC will continue to review the situation as and when it develops.
The meeting lasted six-and-a-half hours, from 11.30 am. Rao left about an hour before the others, once the decisions had been made and the resolutions were being drafted.
