Flurry of activity at Surjeet's house

MANDATE 2004

Communist Party of India (Marxist) President General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet's residence became the epicentre of decision-making today as the power play of the Congress unfolded.

The flurry of activity began with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who met Surjeet to seek the approval of the Left parties for the candidature of Manmohan Singh for prime ministership.

Speaking about the Sonia's meeting with Surjeet, CPI(M) spokesman and Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters the Left parties did not have any objection to Manmohan Singh becoming the Prime Minister, and that the Left would go with Surjeet's decision.

Yechury said, "On our part, we told her to continue to play an important role in the new dispensation and also continue to be the party president," Yechury said.

He said the policies were important to the Left and not individuals. He said the coalition government would be on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme.

However, sources from the Congress, who met Surjeet said Sonia seemed to have confided to Surjeet that her decision to withdraw from prime ministership came through after her meeting with President APJ Abdul Kalam.

It is understood that the President pointed to the legal issues regarding her candidature. Although reports to the contrary have been issued by the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Sources said though Surjeet was extremely upset that Sonia had refused to become the Prime Minister, he was agreeable to Manmohan Singh's candidature for prime ministership.

It was only yesterday, when Congress workers protesting outside the party office had driven away Manmohan Singh.

This morning amid speculations that he would be the nominee for the post of Prime Minister, Singh today met Surjeet.

The meeting took place shortly after Congress president Sonia Gandhi had called upon Surjeet to discuss about government formation. Singh did not speak to waiting mediapersons who virtually stalled his car.

Surjeet is believed to have given a list of 44 MPs to Gandhi pledging their support to the Congress-led government. All the four left parties today gave letters of support for a Congress-led government at the Centre.

Fresh letters were required as those given earlier by the CPI , CPI(M) and Forward Bloc had become redundant since they spoke of giving support to a Sonia Gandhi-led government.

After a long wait, Surjeet decided to address mediapersons later in the evening that the CPI(M) was glad that a leader of Manmohan Singh 's stature was chosen as the next Prime Minister. He said that Singh had made a huge contribution to the Congress party.

The Left , he said, was satisfied with the issues Singh raised in the Rajya Sabha. CPI(M) leader, appreciated the choice of Manmohan Singh for the post prime minister suggested by Gandhi. He said that Manmohan Singh was an old Congress loyalists and had a clean image.

Speaking about the Common Minimum Programme, he said that the Left will be part of a "mechanism" to ensure that the CMP is followed by the Congress-led government at the Centre. Asked by reporters whether there would be a steering committee, Surjeet said "left will part of a mechanism to ensure CMP is followed".

With the Left being a part of both planning and implementation of the CMP, it will be interesting to watch where the Left meets the Congress on issues like disinvestment for instance. The veteran CPI(M) leader is expected to play a crucial role in articulating the concerns of the allies and stabilising the coalition at the Centre.