AFTER operation Scindia came to fruition, Kesri has also had a few rounds of talks with Congress(T) leaders. N.D. Tiwari, president of the four-member splinter group, has responded positively to the unity move initiated by Kesri. "Scindias inclusion is a positive move. We welcome it," he said. More crucial will be the result of Kesris bid to effect an alliance, or even a merger, with the TMC. Moopanar. The 17 members of its ally, the DMK, too are being eyed with interest.
"The talks with Moopanar are moving in a positive direction. Their demand for reasonable autonomy to states is something the Congress has always stood for," a senior AICC functionary said, claiming that the situation will be clear by November-end. The Telugu Desam Party opens up another window of possibilityits 20-strong contingent in the Lok Sabha is not too comfortable with Gowdas leadership and has stayed calm only at the behest of the CPI(M). The TDP has taken cog-nisance of the developments in the Congressits central executive meeting on November 9 discussed the changing political situation. The TMC executive is also slated to meet on November 19, the birth anniverasry of Indira Gandhi. Says the AICC functionary: "If all our efforts materialise, our strength in Parliament will swell to around 230. Whether we continue our support to the UF will depend on how Gowda shapes up."
Deve Gowda seemed cool and pragmatic in his response, though it betrayed his helplessness. "Scindia had quit the Congress for his own reasons and has now gone back. There can be no grievance on that count," he said. Gowda may be less stoic if the Congress plan clicks. In its entirety, that would mean 37 TMC-DMK members, 20 from the TDP, four from the Congress(T) and 22 from Laloo, besides S. Bangarappas Karnataka Congress. Kesri also intends to rope in Karnataka leader R.K. Hegdeif only for his limited utility in needling Gowda personally.