DATE=4/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248344
TITLE=INDIA/POLITICS (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HECTIC POLITICAL MANEUVERING CONTINUES AMONG INDIA'S
OPPOSITION GROUPS, AS THEY COMPETE TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT TO
REPLACE THE HINDU-NATIONALIST LED COALITION THAT LOST A
CONFIDENCE VOTE THREE-DAYS AGO. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS, THE
"CONGRESS PARTY" EXPECTS TO FORM A GOVERNMENT -- BUT NO CLEAR
PICTURE HAS EMERGED ON HOW IT PLANS TO DO THIS.
TEXT: THE "CONGRESS PARTY" STEPPED UP EFFORTS (TUESDAY) TO FIND
A CONSENSUS WITH OTHER OPPOSITION GROUPS TO FORM A GOVERNMENT.
DESPITE DIFFERENCES AMONG OPPOSITION PARTIES, CONGRESS PARTY
SPOKESMAN ARJUN SINGH SAYS HIS PARTY WILL GET SUPPORT FROM ALL
THESE GROUPS -- AND IS CONFIDENT OF FORMING AN ADMINISTRATION.
/// INSERT SINGH ACT ///
I CAN TELL YOU VERY CONFIDENTLY WE WILL HAVE THE LETTERS
OF SUPPORT FROM ALL THE PARTIES WHO VOTED AGAINST THE
MOTION OF CONFIDENCE.
/// END SINGH ACT ///
THE CONGRESS PARTY HAS JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF THE
SEATS IN THE 545-MEMBER PARLIAMENT.
THE PARTY WANTS TO FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT, WITH OPPOSITION
GROUPS EXTENDING SUPPORT, BUT NOT BEING A PART OF THE
ADMINISTRATION. BUT SOME REGIONAL GROUPS SAY THEY WOULD PREFER
TO FORM A COALITION, WITH A SHARE IN GOVERNING. SOME SMALL
GROUPS HAVE ALSO SAID THEY WILL OPPOSE A CONGRESS-LED GOVERNMENT.
CONGRESS PARTY PRESIDENT, SONIA GANDHI, WHO IS SPEARHEADING
EFFORTS TO COBBLE TOGETHER A NEW ADMINISTRATION, MET SENIOR
OPPOSITION LEADERS INCLUDING COMMUNIST LEADER JYOTI BASU AND
FORMER PRIME MINISTER INDER KUMAR GUJRAL.
FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS, MS. GANDHI SAID TALKS ARE CONTINUING TO
EVOLVE A CONSENSUS ON A NEW GOVERNMENT.
THE TASK OF PUTTING TOGETHER AN ALTERNATIVE GOVERNMENT IS PROVING
TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION COMPRISES MORE THAN
TWO-DOZEN GROUPS, MANY WITH DIVERSE POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL
AGENDAS.
MEANWHILE, THE "BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY", WHICH LEADS A CARETAKER
ADMINISTRATION, HAS NOT ABANDONED HOPES OF STAYING IN POWER.
B-J-P VICE PRESIDENT KRISHAN LAL SHARMA SAYS THE OPPOSITION IS
GROPING IN THE DARK TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. HE SAYS HIS PARTY IS
ALSO COLLECTING LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM ITS ALLIES -- AND WANTS
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A GOVERNMENT IF OPPOSITION EFFORTS IN
THIS DIRECTION FAIL.
/// INSERT SHARMA ACT ///
WE HOPE, WE HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL AGAIN CALL AND
CONSULT MR. VAJPAYEE BEFORE TAKING ANY DECISION FOR
DISSOLVING THE HOUSE (PARLIAMENT).
/// END SHARMA ACT ///
INDIA HAS HELD TWO ELECTIONS SINCE 1996. BOTH PRODUCED A
FRAGMENTED PARLIAMENT GIVING NO SINGLE PARTY A CLEAR MAJORITY --
AND THE LAST THREE PRIME MINISTERS HAVE HAD TO FORGE GOVERNMENTS
WITH THE SUPPORT OF SMALLER PARTIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/RAE
20-Apr-99 10:08 AM EDT (1408 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
