Economic issues related with the budget session are slated to be the chief focus of a meeting of the executive of the Congress Party in Parliament today. However, the dominant political issue, resentment over the CBI questioning of party President Sitaram Kesari, could come up.
The meeting is likely to be briefed about the partys official perceptions on the state of the economy, perhaps by some of the members of the partys department on economic affairs headed by Manmohan Singh. On the eve of the National Development Council, Singh and his colleagues had briefed party chief ministers on the ninth plan approach paper.
Judging from the tone of senior party leaders yesterday, nothing politically precipitate was likely. CPP secretary V Narayanaswamy had stirred speculation some weeks ago by saying the executive could pass a resolution authorising Kesari to withdraw the partys support to the United Front government whenever he thought fit.
Party leaders now maintain that Narayanaswamy was only expressing his personal view and that the decision would have to be taken by the Congress Working Committee, as and when.
Kesari would say nothing about the controversies over his being questioned and over allegations that two Intelligence Bureau operatives had been discovered in the party headquarters. Sharad Pawar, the partys leader in the Lok Sabha, asked reporters wanting to know about withdrawal of support why they asked the same question again and again.
Relations between the Congress and the United Front are nonetheless far from warm. Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda did not attend an iftar dinner hosted by Kesari yesterday. Union ministers IK Gujral and CM Ibrahim were there.
When a reporter asked why Gowda was not present, Ibrahim said he wasnt Gowdas man Friday. When a reporter asked to be told off the record what the Fronts strategy was in the face of the Congress pressure, Ibrahim guffawed, saying: You want me to tell you standing in the Congress party?
Kesar is predecessor PV Narasimha Rao and Sonia Gandhi, dressed in a sheer black sari, were present, along with a host of party leaders and prominent social figures, particularly Muslims. Among them were leaders like Madhavrao Scindia, ML Fotedar, Mohsina Kidwai and PR Kumaramangalam, who have recently returned to the parent party.
