"One Family Controls Congress"

The Maharashtra government ran into trouble on day one after you objected to the size of the cabinet. What does that augur?
The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (ncp) had reached an understanding on the size of the cabinet but chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh inducted members in excess of the figure agreed upon. We’ve no objections to particular individuals being inducted - he’s free to choose his team - but certainly, we object to his exceeding the quota for two reasons. First, Maharashtra has never had a cabinet larger than 48. Second, the state is in bad shape financially. The chief minister has asked the people to be ready for hard decisions. The process of taking such decisions should start with us. We have to curtail administrative expenditure and a 62-member cabinet isn’t the way to do it. We’re ready to sacrifice ministerial berths if the Congress does.
If corrective measures are taken, I don’t see any problems because the people - and we - want a stable government.

Are there any chances of a reconciliation with the Congress?
No. We’re quite happy where we are - able to think independently and choose our own path in the best interests of the nation. There’s a sense of freedom; having spent so many years in public life, it’s good being able to work without directives from an inexperienced person who came in just a couple of years ago.

Is that because the next generation of Congress leadership - Priyanka and Rahul - is in place?
I’m convinced the Congress is totally controlled by one family and will continue to be so. Several senior Congressmen, over 75 years in age, have told me they have no problem adjusting to someone who’s their grandchild’s age, provided he or she can get them into Parliament. If that’s their bottomline, I don’t see the Congress leadership changing. And if someone feels the Congress is a family concern and runs it in that fashion, well, good luck.

Are you saying Congressmen are happy with the leadership?
They aren’t happy, but lack the guts to challenge the Congress leadership. Those who are confident and can get into Parliament without anyone’s support on the basis of their direct association with the masses are very uncomfortable. But these leaders are just a handful.

I’ve read about the committee set up to examine the reasons behind poor election results. They’ve cited this or that excuse but aren’t serious about assessing ground realities. Delhi gave the party an absolute majority in the assembly a few months ago but hasn’t given it a single seat in Parliament. What does that indicate? I don’t think it’s a verdict against Sheila Dixit. The fact is, India has rejected the Congress leadership. Of course, that is an internal problem of the party.

Congressmen appear to believe leaders are born, not made...
I don’t believe that. Personalities evolve on the basis of their work and ability; someone may perform best as a party worker, someone else as a parliamentarian. But just because the father had occupied a certain post, it doesn’t necessarily follow that his son or daughter should as well.

Isn’t perpetuating dynasty a charge against you?
You’re referring to my nephew. Ajit Pawar has been in the Maharashtra assembly or in Parliament for four terms. Now he’s a cabinet minister.

Who do you think could emerge as leader of the Congress?
There are several people, provided they’re given the opportunity. Manmohan Singh, for one. There are also a number of youngsters in the Congress whom I don’t want to name because that might hurt their future in the party.

Do you think the Congress would have done better with an alternative prime ministerial candidate?
Definitely. If the Congress had projected someone else, it would have formed the government.

How come the ncp did not do too well?
We’re only two months old! We simply didn’t have time to set up an organisation and channelise our resources. We were given a symbol only after nominations had started. To reach every corner of a single state, leave alone the country, was impossible. Our aim was to gain recognition as a national party for which we needed a 6 per cent voteshare in four states. We’ve managed that in three states and will do so soon in a fourth. Now we have time to establish our party.

Have you and P.A. Sangma fallen out?
Not at all. Viewpoints differ and given our strong belief in inner-party democracy, we want our members to express them. Then we hold a discussion on the subject and adopt a common approach.

Would you go with the bjp if it abandoned the Shiv Sena?
No. But nor are we going to allow destabilisation of the central government without a viable alternative in sight. In the interests of the Indian economy, we refuse to be party to toppling games. Unless, of course, the Vajpayee government were to take extreme steps which hurt the country.