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The Election Day Results Chat

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:20)

Ram: The BJP alone has the right intentions, right policies as well as right leadership to undertake this task. After Independence, in the first two decades, we faltered in policies. In the next two decades, we faltered in leadership. And now, added to this, is the question of intention and motivation itself on the part of BJP's adversaries.

Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:20)

Saisuresh: How do you presume that Mrs Sonia Gandhi would not be elected by the Congress Parliamentary Party when it meets? After all, there is no denying the fact that not only did she boost the morale of the Congress workers all over the country, but she has made a material difference to the number of seats which the Congress has won in different parts of the country. Personally speaking, my definition of a leader is one who can enthuse the cadres and who can develop a rapport with the people and swing votes. And she fulfils in full measure both these criteria.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:20)

When it comes to vote shares, there is some interesting trends: the BJP and allies took 37 per cent, the Congress took 30 %, the UF 22% and Iothers, 11 %. BUt what is interesting is that when you look at the individual figures, both parties , the BJP and Cong, are dead-heat on 25% of the vote share.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:25)

Saisuresh: Nothing has been thought about it. Jaswant Singh's defeat is shocking news for us. Alternatively we have many more competent persons to handle the job of the finance ministership. I will not comment upon the suitability of individuals for the job. I don't think Mr Kalmadi will make it to the cabinet now.

Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:26)

Mr GOVINDACHARYA, does right leadership and right policies mean that you raise what is politically expedient, divisive during various elections and conveniently forget it and move on to other issues when you realise that your previous policies have resulted in your reaching a zenith in so far as widening your social base is concerned? Is that the responsible and able leadership you refer to?

Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:29)

Amar: Age has nothing to do with ability. A person who is 28 may be more able than one at 83. But the equation could also be reversed. There is no denying the fact that there is no substitute for the experience of a 83-year-old.

Mohandas (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:29)

To all readers: It looks like we are again going for a hung Parliament. If BJP falls short of an absolute of an absolute majority, there are 5 possibilities: 1) UF may break up and some of their MPs may join hands with the BJP to get the required figure. 2) Congress may break up and some of their MPs may join hands with the BJP. 3) Both Congress and UF may break up and some MPs from each group may join hands with the BJP. 4) Congress and UF may join hands. If so, their joint strength may be more than the BJP, like in the last elections. 5) Small parties and Independent members may then join either the BJP or the UF-Congress combine.

The fourth possibility seems to be most likely at present. But this time the Congress will stake its claim for the prime ministership unlike last time when the Congress supported the UF ministry "from outside". In fact, the withdrawal of support by the Congress was the reason for the fall of the UF ministry leading to the present election. Such an alliance, if it comes about, will not, according to my opinion, last even SIX months, but it may be another matter if Mrs Sonia Gandhi, "the only man" in the Congress assumes office.

Even so, there is a danger of party-hopping by MPs, with horse- trading being an inevitable adjunct. All this for a few months for an unsettled governenance. After that, it will be back to square one. Almost every right-thinking citizen in India feels that this costly experiment with zero returns deserves to be scrapped. The President must step in to ensure an electoral holiday, if and when the next ministry falls. He should take over and run the administration himself, aided by non-political distinguished experts in various fields. If the Constitution is a hurdle to such a measure, the legal luminaries of the government and the best constitutional brains in India should sit together and find a way out.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:30)

Amar: When we talk of Hindutva, it is anti-any religion but has got a universalist message. The English translation of Hindutva is Hinduness that is a particular way of life, approach towards life, values of life, world view, etc. Therefore, there is no reason why our allies should take any objection to this. And moreover, the supreme court too has the same view about Hindutva as us. We don't hold a brief for other parties like the AIADMK, but we can at least say that the DMK government and DMK leaders have been charged of far more severe corruption cases than the cases foisted on Jayalalitha because of the DMK government's vindictive attitude against her.

Mohandas (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:30)

Amar: Please read what I have just said. The answer is, the PRESIDENT.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:31)

Amar: There is nothing like RSS history in the textbooks, but, definitely, education should be able to impart three things to the individual: A. Knowledge of the subject. B. Skill to earn a livelihood. C. Personality development in an integral manner.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:32)

Amar: Yes, I studied in Varanasi at the Benaras Hindu University.

Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary, AICC (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:36)

Psmith: There is a qualitative difference between Mrs Rabri Devi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and the difference has been demonstrated by the overwhelming response which Mrs Gandhi received across the length and breadth of India. The other differences are implied, and it would border on rudeness to elaborate.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:36)

Manishji, in my view the right type of leadership evolves by understanding the problems of the society, feeling it, striving to solve these problems through constructive and agitational means, without seeking anything in return except self-satisfaction. Contesting and winning elections is not the only method for bringing up leadership.

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 7:40)

Ravi: The picture is not clear. Wait for three more days. We will first try to understand the responses from the various political groups in UF also. The political conflict in AP, Kerala, and Bengal puts the UF constituents in an awkward position when they decide to support the Congress. We are waiting for the political situation to mature and then move forward to have a dialogue with suitable potential allies.

Mohandas (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:4)

About Jayalalitha's performance: It is fantastic. Driven against the wall, she used her sharp brains to form an alliance of parties which were till recently mutually antagonstic to her. Apart from this, there was a sympathy wave right through TN for the crminal charges pursued ruthlessly aganist her by CM Karunanidhi. But the voters are not fools, even the illiterate ones who form nearly 40 per cent of the electorate. They very well know that corruption was first made a political business in TN by Karunanidhi himself and now with his son as mayor of Madras and his nephew as industries minister at the Centre, it is easy going for him.

I remember that when I was in the CBI, New Delhi, I had investigated charges of corruption against Karunanidhi who was then CM on the recommendations of Justice Sarkaria Commission. Of several charges brought before the Commission (which was assisted by me) four were found to be well substantiated by the hon'ble judge. On the basis of this, the CBI (through me) filed charges against Karunanidhi in the court of special judge, Madras. When the case progressed sufficiently and a conviction was imminent, there was a change in the political wind in New Delhi.

Mrs Indira Gandhi, who appointed the Sarkaria Commssion, joined hands with Karunanidhi for the then general election, and the CBI was asked to withdraw charges against Karunanidhi in court. The voters, who are politically very knowledgeable, though the majority of them are residing in rural areas, always say that all politicains are corrupt. So, when Jayalalitha was put in jail, the fact that she was a lady added to the sympathy wave. Jayalalitha cleverly cashed in on this. Thank you chatters for your interest in India and the electoral scene. I am not sure whether I have been able to enlighten you on the various doubts in your mind. Even so, it was a good chat. Thanx once again! Bye!

GOVINDACHARYA (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:6)

Saisuresh: Though I have great difference with Mulayam Singhji on his casteist and minority communalist approach to politics, in all fairness I should concede that he is a hardworking politician. He always goes to the field and undertakes whirlwind tours whenever he is down. This time also he, with great effort, put his act together in terms of grouping different subcastes together and selecting candidates with the only criteria being their winnability, notwithstanding their wrong image. I have to go now, but I will be back tomorrow.

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:8)

Rajesh Pilot just rushed in to the Congress office on his way to Sitaram Kesri's residence. "The Congress and the United Front should learn from their mistakes, apply their mind and form the next government," he told journalists.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:8)

One thing is clear last time both the major groups were outside the government. We were in the Opposition, the Congress was supporting the government. Smaller parties were running the government. It was very unnatural. Now after this election it is practically clear. It is clear that either we form the government or the Congress does. But we are the largest and we need only 20 odd seats. Our forming the government is a clear proposition.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:10)

What will happen when this anti-BJPism does not work? The Congress has won only marginally. Now the UF has realised has realised that clinging to Congress Dritharashtra ka alingan hain...

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:11)

Pilot said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi will be involved and should be involved in the selection of the CPP leader.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:11)

And I think that the UF parties will realise that if they go with the Congress their existence is in doubt. But the Leftists are playing a very dirty game. Really speaking, the CPI played this game in 1969 and they lost their credibility. I do not know whether they realise it or not...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:11)

Kushbhau Thakre>> Why, do you suppose, is there this anti-BJPism, as you call it?

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:12)

Hello Everyone: I am ready for your questions.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:12)

I don't think that there is any thing to worry because we just near a majority. We will be able to form the government...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:13)

Welcome to the Rediff Chat, Mr Nehru. How do you assess what general elections, circa 1998, has immortalised as the "Sonia Factor"?

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:14)

The current situation is that the BJP and partners and the emerging Congress-UF effort is equally matched. As far as numbers go, it is the latter which is ahead. I reckon that the BJP and the allies will have a total of 250 members. Whereas the Congress and UF will have a total of 280. Technically, both sides have a very difficult period ahead and instead of stability we can have a period of relative insecurity. I have mentioned that this is only the semi-final. The final will follow in due course.

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:15)

Sitaram Kesri is now holding a strategic session with top Congress leaders like Dr Manmohan Singh, R K Dhawan, Ghulam Nabi Azad etc.. The meeting is supposed to decide how the party should proceed as most of the results are out.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:16)

Rediff-Congress>> Interesting lineup, that -- Pawar is out of Delhi. :-)

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:16)

Prem: I think the elections do not show any particular trend and there is certainly no personality cult for any individual. The Congress have done extremely well in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Assam. And done extremely, in UP which is our home state. Even Amethi has been lost to the opposition.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:18)

Prem: It is a mere slogan for them. These power seekers want to be in power so they raise these slogans. None of them is serious about them. They have worked with our Samyukta Vidhayak Dal government, even the Communists have, in 1967 in Bihar. In 1989, the Janata Dal could not form the government and it was possible only with help of the BJP.

They came to us saying that if we take you into the government the Leftists won't support us. We want your help. We told them plainly that time. Vishwanath Pratap Singh and his colleagues were here in this office and we had a talk. We told them that these were our views about Ram Mandir and Ayodhya. As the situation is there, we don't except you to implement these things.

Please don't rub us on the wrong side. We'll support your government from outside. Of course, we had our own agenda. And when we were campaigning for the Ram Mandir they put the president of the party behind bars (Advani in BIhar). And that was the last straw on the camel's back and when they arrested Advaniji we withdrew our support...

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:20)

Mr Mohandas: What a coincidence that Arun Nehru, minister of state for internal security under Rajiv Gandhi, is present in the chat room along with you! Given his position then, Nehru ought to have been involved with the LTTE-breeding. How did you perceive his role? Can we have some policeman's candour on Nehru?

Rediff Team, Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:20)

Throughout the day various top Congress leaders have met Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Congress sources say the battle for the CPP leadership has begun in the party. In the queue are Sitaram Kesri and Sharad Pawar. But Sonia is believed to be favouring Dr Manmohan Singh.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:21)

Mr Nehru: How do you evaluate the impact of the fall of Amethi on the dynasty?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:21)

We are not fighting a particular person or a party, we are fighting for certain principles. And if other parties also want to help us in fulfilling the purpose there is nothing bad or wrong about it. Because we do need the support of certain other MPs too to form the government...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:21)

Kushbhau Thakre>> The HLD has announced that its four MPs will support the BJP. Other than this outfit, where do you see the BJP going to make up the numbers deficit?

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:22)

Mr Goel: The question is that first results have to come in. The notification has to be issued and then the President has to satisfy himself that whoever he calls will have the necessary majority to ensure the continuity of the government. This is a grey area in the Constitution. In the current situation, the President can call the BJP as the single largest party and ask them to prove their majority on the floor of the House.

Alternatively, if all the UF members give a letter to the President supporting the Congress party, then that is also possible. After the UP experiment, where even one day has led to a great deal of horse-trading. We would not like the same to happen in Delhi as things stand. The BJP will be short of 25 members for a majority and where will these come from. You can attach moral and ethical reasons for political somersaults from one party to another. But the matter in the public minid does not change and it would be interesting to observe that in the recent elections most people who have changed sides have been defeated.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:23)

The BJP can implement its programme only when BJP secures that much strength. Even when we get a majority on our own we cannot amend Article 370. This is going to be a coalition government. So all our programmes cannot be implemented. After all there is going to be a common minimum programme on which all the allies would agree upon...

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:23)

Welcome to the Rediff Chat, Mr Nehru.

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:24)

Welcome, Mr Thakre.

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:25)

Mr Thakre: Will the BJP agree to a dilution of its ideological position at the behest of its allies?

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:25)

Mr Nehru: Do you agree that this election is just the semfinal, and the next election will be the final?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:25)

Prem, you see a common minimum programme would be evolved after discussions with all these MPs. The nature of support is thatit would be a mutual understanding.

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:25)

Sai: Amethi has been lost earlier in 1977. Amethi and Rai Bareilli are the seats held by the family for the past two decades. I have represented Rai Bareilli twice, in 1984 and 1989. The fact of the matter is in the last two election, the Congress have lost their deposits here in Rai Bareilli. The same position applies to Amethi which is a neighbouring constituency. The family name has certainly a limited advantage but the constituency goes on general trends prevalent in the state. In these elections, the Congress has drawn a blank in UP. The same situation exists in 1977 when both Ms Gandhi and Sanjay lost the elections. Next time around, if the trend is favourable, Amethi will be won back.

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:26)

Mr Thakre: Why has the BJP, despite all the hype about Mr Vajpayee, gained only 17 seats? What went wrong?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:26)

There is no question of repeating UP here. In UP we were facing a different situation altogether. A dishonest governor and a central minister supporting the dishonest governor. That was a problem for us...

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:40)

This is not going to be a UP-type of government. The basic idea before us is to run the government. And it should be a good government, responsive to public difficulties. We are not interested in power for power sake. And I think we will get friends who imbibe this spirit...

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:41)

As for coalition: This election has posed many questions. In this given situation coalition seems to be the only solution but this not going to remain for ever. This will change soon.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:41)

Mr Thakre>> The "dishonest governor" situation came about now. The general concern was about the situation when Mayawati withdrew support, and there was this open horse-trading aimed at giving the Kalyan Singh government a majority...?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:41)

All these pushes and pulls are there in a coalition government. But the basic difference this time is that the coalition is around a larger party.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:42)

We have to go through it. We may not indulge in it. There is no other option for us... This mad power politics was going on with this coalition government and, to some extent, this game goes against the political ethos. But if we combine and concentrate on removing the difficulties of the people they don't attach much importance to this game of power politics. But what happened the Congress and the UF people were playing their own political game. But unfortunately for the country they didn't pay heed to people's problems. And that brought their doom. When this government fell nobody shed a drop of tear. OH GOD, YOU HAVE SAVED US, was the people 's reaction. So ultimately the government sustains on what you do for the people. And if our government doesn't do that we will face difficulties...

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:43)

I don't think there would be a problem about the President deciding against us. Fortunately for us, the country has a President who is very honest and is a man of great integrity. That is a blessing in disguise for the country. We don't fear that he will do anything unconstitutional. In UP we had to deal with dishonest people, power-hungry and corrupt politicians and that brought us many difficulties. The difficulties were there because of this. But the situation here is not like that. We don't expect any such problem. The politicians may play their game. We can face them squarely. We have done that uptil now and and they have gone down, not us...

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:44)

Mr Lakshman: I thinik that the loss in Maharashtra and Rajasthan is the reason. Otherwise, we would have definitely crossed the 200-barrier.

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:45)

SaI: I don't think there will be any change to what I have mentioned earlier. The BJP combination will be between 240 and 250. And the Congress-UF combination, if they agree to go together, will be between 280 and 290.

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:45)

Mr Nehru: Given 10, Janpath's scepticism about Mr Pawar, do you think Mrs Gandhi will go along with his candidature as CPP leader?

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:46)

Goel: I think you should get in touch with them as they would welcome anyone who can deliver five seats!

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:46)

Would she not prefer a more pliable premier? Someone not inclined to meddle with the fortunes of the dynasty.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:46)

And another reason is that in the provinces we had done little work -- we needed more time, like in the southern and eastern states, to build the organisation. Unfortunately for us, but better for the country, this government fell so early.

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:49)

The Nehru family is alive and kicking. The Congress in 1998 have improved their position over 1996. And in today's election, along with the UF, it will, in all probability, form the government. We are entering an era of coalition politics and this is not an unusual phenomenon, as it is prevalent in 75 percent of the world's democracies. In the current elections, the Congress has only three alliance partners, who have contributed 20 seats whereas the BJP has 16 alliance partners who will contribute nearly 70 seats to the BJP grand total of 245.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:49)

Prem; Really speaking, this is not a correct story. Rumblings in the Congress legislative party in UP were going on for the last one year. Naresh Aggarwal was elected leader of their group. But he was denied the leadership by the central leaders and, therefore, there were rumblings in the Congress party. And because of this, the Congress party was broken into pieces. They thought under the umbrella of BJP they will be protected...

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:49)

Rather interesting discussion happening on Star TV just now. George Fernandes of the Samata Party is differentiating between the BJP agenda and a common minimum programme the BJP-led alliance will use as the working document for their government. Fernandes clearly says that in that CMP, there will be no place for Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura et al. As does Jayalalitha. When the BJP is asked about this, the common response has been, "The temple is not an issue, one already exists, we are only talking of enlarging it". The manifesto, though, talks of constructing a temple....???

Nikhil Lakshman (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:49)

Thakrejee, why do you think the BJP did badly in Maharashtra? I can understand the anti-incumbency factor in Rajasthan, but I am not prepared to buy that explanation for Maharashtra. Do you think there are some other reasons for the loss in Maharashtra? Do you think the 1995 and 1996 verdicts were aberrations?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:50)

Sai; We have been in coalitions in many states, not just in UP. Therefore, we know the difficulties that we will have to face in a coalition government.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 8:51)

Mr Thakre>> And then, judging by the recent confusion, realised that they were not -- rather, that a section of them were not -- protected?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:0)

Nikhil: No question of aberation. As we were in the government there could have been some problems of our being in the government. But the main reason is the coming together of these social groups.

R Jayshankar, Special Correspondent, AFP, at Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:1)

Mr Thakre: Are you at a dead end in politics? The UF will not align with you. The other independents are at their wit's end. Tell me where the hell are the parliamentary numbers going to come from?

R Jayshankar, Special Correspondent, AFP, at Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:2)

Mr Arun Nehru: The Congress, the United Front and the BJP -- three blocs throwing their weight. Will the President cave in?

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:2)

Gopala: BJP and its allies they are the largest group in the Parliament, practically making a majority. And I don't think that running away from this responsibility will help the country or the BJP.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:3)

XXX: We are not for him because he will take a decision favourable to us. But because the decision he takes will be favourable to the country. Really, these allegations against the President by the UF partners should not have been made, because the President acted well within his constitutional powers.

Kushabhau Thakre (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:3)

It is good for the country that the BJP is coming up. But we should strive to build the party in quickly. The country is in a dire need of it...

R Jayshankar, Special Correspondent, AFP at Congress HQ: (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:4)

Mr Thakre: In the end of this political tamasha, do you think the electorate is a funny group of idiots? Or do you politicians have a different opinion?

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:5)

Mr Thakre: Hasn't Sharad Pawar shown up how hollow the BJP-Sena vote is in Maharashtra? I mean, like the Congress earlier, the BJP-Sena has been benefiting from a divide in anti- votes. And in that sense, Pawar has done a V P Singh on your party by uniting with the SP and the RPI?

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:6)

It is not a question of exploiting a name. The Nehru-Gandhi family is in focus because it is produced three PMs. And all of them have been elected by the people. There are always positives in every situation and, like the rest of the world and many of our states, certain families have earned a reasonable amount of good will. Look at the case of Kashmir where Farooq follows his father and now his son Omar is fighting the elections. Go to Andhra, where we have NTR' sons, daughter, sons-in-law and wife dominating events.

Go to Haryana, where we have three generations of the Devi Lal clan fighting the current election against Bansi Lal and his son on one side and Bhajan Lal and family on the other side. Go through every political party and you will have an adequate numbers of sons daughters, wives, in-laws etc contesting the elections. If you need more examples, you have Deve Gowda and his son, Karunakaran and Son, P V Rao and Son... The list can go on and on. The BJP has the entire Scindia family, mother and daughter, fighting the elections.

V.GANGADHAR (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:6)

Ajit Panja, former Congress Minister at the Centre and now a Trinamul Congress MP, was quite certain his party would not accept apologies.

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:8)

That was Kushabhau Thakre, the seniormost general secretary of BJP and the leader tipped to be the next president of the party. As Advani's term is already over and organisational election was held back for the LS elections, most probably we could see him as the president of the ruling party soon...

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:8)

Mr Nehru: Who do you think the President will invite first?

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:9)

Thanks, Mr Thakre, hope to see you on again.

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:9)

R SHANKAR, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, AFP: The President will follow the constitutional course and there is no question of pressure and counter pressure. Both sides will have their claims supported by documents and the President will ascertain these claims, will take legal opinion if he considers it necessary. As I have mentioned earlier, our Constitution has a grey area in this aspect of decision-making, and, hence, the President's action can be questioned by either side.

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:11)

In politics, as in most things one should not pre-judge a situation or be subect to subjective asssesment. I have seen the peaks and the valleys in both the Congress and the opposition. And it is my intention to give an unbiased view.

V Gangadhar (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:11)

It looks like curtains for the Rashtriya Janata Party and its leader, Shankarsinh Vaghela in Gujarat. The RJP lost all the Lok Sabha seats and won only four state assembly states. We can expect an exodus from the RJP to the Congress and the BJP though it is not certain what the future holds for Vaghela.

Rediff team @Congress HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:11)

Activity has almost ceased here at 24, Akbar road, as most leaders were in a meeting with Mr Kesri. As the offices in the AICC get locked by the maintenance staff and the media and hangers-on depart, we at the Congress office sign off for the second day.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:12)

Rediff@Congress: Lets hope tomorrow sees action at 24, Akbar road

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:12)

Rediff-CongressHQ: Thanks for a superb job, guys... have a great night, see you tomorrow...

Rediff@BJP HQ (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:15)

The night is going to be a long one here, with the leaders instructing their workers to keep them posted by the minute. It is almost as if the BJP party has found a way out and is just waiting for the results to be finally announced...

Arun Nehru, Former Union minister for Commerce and earlier minister for internal security. (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:15)

Pratik: The question in regard to the UF is relevant to all the political parties. The public is not averse to election as this is necessary in a parliamentary democracy. If the UF have held their positions in certain states. It shows the maturity of the voting public. The JD component of the UF was constantly giving problems and, in the current elections, have been decimated. All the other partners, barring the DMK-TMC combine, have not done too badly. The election result shows that the BJP and Congress both have gained marginally at the expense of the UF. And the real gains have been secured by new alliance partners attached to major parties: EVERYONE: IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. GOOD NIGHT.

Prem Panicker (Tue Mar 3 1998 9:16)

Mr Nehru, thank you for appearing on Rediff Chat, hope to see you on again.