THE Congress' electoral defeat in May did not dilute P. V. Narasimha Rao's powers. By extending his party's support to a secular United Front, Rao propped up the coalition. And a grateful H.D. Deve Gowda had reasons to call on Rao frequently—he was the king-maker.
Rao's exit as Congress president on September 21, and then as CPP leader three months later, therefore casts a shadow on the seven-month-old United Front Government. "We will continue to review support. It is not unconditional," said Tariq Anwar, political secretary to the Congress president. Hence, Gowda's discomfiture.
Kesri has already started consolidating the Congress splinter groups, and other UF constituents. Madhavrao Scindia, S. Bangarappa and the Congress (T) are already back in the fold. To add to Gow-da's woes, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi's support to the Allahabad High Court judg-ement quashing President's rule in Uttar Pradesh and his demand for a fresh look into the question of autonomy to states could not have come at a worse time.
While consolidating Congress, Kesri will also have to exploit the dissent within the UF. While the DMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress have already held talks with Kesri, Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav—with 17 MPs—and Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav have also expressed their disenchantment with Gowda.
On December 16, Mulayam said the central leadership was the "conspirator of formula politics". Addressing a backward rally, Mulayam said the UF was exploiting his mass base, giving him nothing in return. In his advice to Kesri, he said: "The Congress should now think of installing a secular government in Uttar Pradesh overruling the Bahujan Samaj Party which is willing to join hands with the BJP".
The Congress strength in the Uttar Pradesh assembly may not be enough to make Mulayam chief minister just now. As for Kesri, he has to first consolidate his stand in the party. But Rao's exit definitely gives Kesri the upper hand in dealing with the UF Government as he pleases.
