Power Heist Boomerangs

AS the Deve Gowda government was voted out, Sitaram Kesri did not quite exhibit thehelplessness evident on Congress MPs’ faces in the Lok Sabha. He seemed to have theglee of a victor when he got back home past 1 am that night. And while his MPs leftParliament harbouring the fear that they would be labelled ‘communal’ (forhaving voted along with the BJP), Kesri dug into a hearty dinner with a small group ofsycophants and admirers at his AB7 Purana Qila Road residence.

And 11 hours later at noon (on April 12), he paid a visit to theChhatarpur temple in Mehrauli as he found himself a step closer to prime ministership. Buthe told Outlook: "I am not a candidate for the post. Nor do we wantdissolution of Parliament. But for any fresh negotiations with the UF, let them elect anew leader in place of Gowda." But this pilgrimage did not seem to bring him muchsolace. As the day unfolded, reality finally dawned on Kesri as rumblings of a volcanicrevolt in the party became audible.

Around 9 pm, Pawar and Congress parliamentary secretary PrithvirajChavan told him that he should immediately call a CPP meeting and explain the basis of hisoptimism in the post-Gowda scenario. Kesri’s lieutenants—K. Karunakaran andPranab Mukherjee—had earlier failed to pacify about 60 furious MPs at Pawar’sresidence who sought an explanation for the humiliation they suffered in Parliament a daybefore. "You promised us the government after ousting Gowda," said Andhra MP S.Sambaji Rao. Mamata Bannerjee openly called for Kesri’s scalp, saying he had broughtthe party into disrepute. Karunakaran and Mukherjee left in a huff with no ammunition todefend Kesri or his decision to withdraw support, to which the two were privy and party.

In fact, all along Kesri had kept telling party MPs that a suddenwithdrawal would create panic in the UF, which would then support the Congress to avoidelections. And nothing would come in the way of his being sworn in as prime minister. Butthe solidarity in the UF ranks upsets his calculations. Kesri has already wisened up tothe political stalemate. Foregoing the claim which the Congress had made before PresidentShankar Dayal Sharma is an indicator of the defenceless state his camp is in. But therevolt and defiance that seems to be building up against Kesri shows no sign yet ofpetering out fast.