DATE=4/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248290
TITLE=INDIA POLITICS (L) (CQ)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S WARRING POLITICAL PARTIES MOMENTARILY PUT ASIDE
THEIR DIFFERENCES ON MONDAY AND AGREED TO ADOPT A BUDGET. VOA'S
JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE BUDGET AGREEMENT HAS HELPED TO EASE FEARS
OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY FOLLOWING SATURDAY'S VOTE OF NO
CONFIDENCE AGAINST PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE.
TEXT: FOLLOWING AN ALL-PARTY MEETING IN PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY,
INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY AGREED TO ADOPT THE
PRO-BUSINESS BUDGET PLAN ON WEDNESDAY WITH NO AMENDMENTS. A
FAILURE TO ADOPT THE PLAN WOULD MEAN IMPORTANT TAX CHANGES THAT
WERE ADOPTED ON APRIL 1ST WOULD HAVE TO BE REVERSED.
THERE HAD BEEN FEARS THE CONGRESS PARTY WOULD EITHER REJECT OR
SEEK TO MODIFY THE BUDGET. HOWEVER P-J KURIEN, THE CONGRESS
PARTY'S WHIP (FLOOR LEADER) IN PARLIAMENT, SAYS THE LAST THING
THE CONGRESS PARTY WANTS AS IT IS TRYING TO FORM A GOVERNMENT IS
A FINANCIAL CRISIS.
// INSERT KURIEN ACTUALITY //
WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE A FINANCIAL CRISIS, SO THEREFORE
WE WILL COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN PASSING THE
BUDGET.
// END ACTUALITY //
// OPT // INDIA'S MAIN STOCK EXCHANGE IN BOMBAY RESPONDED
FAVORABLY TO THE NEWS RECOVERING SOMEWHAT FROM A SEVEN PERCENT
DROP IT EXPERIENCED ON SATURDAY FOLLOWING THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE
OF NO CONFIDENCE IN PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE. // END OPT //
EVEN THOUGH HE LOST THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, MR. VAJPAYEE HAS
AGREED TO STAY ON AS A CARETAKER UNTIL THE CONGRESS PARTY CAN
FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT.
SONIA GANDHI, THE ITALIAN-BORN WIDOW OF SLAIN PRIME MINISTER
RAJIV GANDHI, SAYS SHE IS READY TO FORM A NEW ADMINISTRATION AND
WILL BE ABLE TO GATHER ENOUGH SMALL PARTIES TOGETHER INTO A
GOVERNING COALITION.
THE CONGRESS PARTY HAS 140 MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT, WELL SHORT OF A
MAJORITY. SUBBARAMI REDDY, A SENIOR LEADER IN THE CONGRESS
PARTY, SAYS HIS PARTY WILL GET THE COOPERATION IT NEEDS FROM
OTHER PARTIES BECAUSE IF IT DOES NOT, THERE WILL BE NEW
ELECTIONS, AND ALMOST NO ONE IN PARLIAMENT WANTS TO FACE AN
ANGRY INDIAN ELECTORATE.
// INSERT REDDY ACTUALITY //
NOBODY IN THE COUNTRY WANTS ELECTIONS. THAT'S SOMETHING
NO SMALL PARTY AND NO M-P (MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT) WANTS.
THEREFORE THE SITUATION IS SUCH THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO
COOPERATE.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE CONGRESS PARTY HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF A COALITION GOVERNMENT
AND LEADERS OF THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, WHO WERE DEFEATED IN
SATURDAY'S VOTE, SAY THEY DOUBT WHETHER SONIA GANDHI AND HER
LIEUTENANTS WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE VOTES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE A
MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. SHANTA KUMAR, A B-J-P MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT FROM HIMACHAL PRADESH, SAYS MR. VAJPAYEE SHOULD STAY
IN OFFICE OR NEW ELECTIONS SHOULD BE CALLED.
// INSERT KUMAR ACTUALITY //
WHAT WE SAID EARLIER WAS EITHER VAJPAYEE OR A MID-TERM
POLL. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONGRESS WON'T
BE ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. THERE ARE SO MANY
INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS WITH THAT. SO I DON'T SEE ANY
STABLE GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE -- THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO
FORM A GOVERNMENT.
// END ACTUALITY //
IF THE CONGRESS PARTY CANNOT ACHIEVE THE NECESSARY MAJORITY TO
FORM A GOVERNMENT ON ITS OWN, IT COULD LEND ITS SUPPORT TO A
MINORITY GOVERNMENT LED BY SOME OF ITS REGIONAL OR LEFTIST ALLIES
-- SOMETHING THE PARTY DID IN 1996. IT THAT FAILS, NEW ELECTIONS
WILL HAVE TO BE CALLED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/KL
19-Apr-99 8:34 AM EDT (1234 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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