DATE=4/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248399
TITLE=INDIA POLITICS (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE AGAINST ITS
POLITICAL OPPONENTS, INDIA'S CONGRESS PARTY SEEMS TO BE HAVING
INCREASING DIFFICULTY FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT. VOA'S JIM TEEPLE
REPORTS FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU.
// INSERT ACT OF CROWD CHANTING ..GO HOME SONIA... //
TEXT: SUPPORTERS OF INDIA'S HINDU-NATIONALIST BHARATIYA JANATA
PARTY CHANTED ANTI-SONIA GANDHI SLOGANS OUTSIDE INDIA'S
PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY AS THE CONGRESS PARTY LEADER WAS MEETING
JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY WITH INDIA'S PRESIDENT, K.R.
NARAYANAN.
INDIA'S PRESIDENT, WHO HAS TO APPROVE ANY NEW GOVERNMENT, CALLED
SONIA GANDHI TO HIS IMPOSING RESIDENCE TO ASK HER TO BRING ENOUGH
LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM HER ALLIES TO PROVE SHE CAN FORM A NEW
GOVERNMENT.
MRS. GANDHI, THE ITALIAN-BORN WIDOW OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER
RAJIV GANDHI, SAYS SHE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT BY FRIDAY.
// INSERT GANDHI ACTUALITY //
WITHIN TWO DAYS WE WILL BRING THE LETTERS. THIS IS WHAT
I HAVE TOLD THE PRESIDENT.
// END ACTUALITY //
IT IS UP TO INDIA'S PRESIDENT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ALLOW THE
CONGRESS PARTY TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT OR WHETHER TO GIVE
ANOTHER PARTY OR COALITION OF PARTIES THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
SONIA GANDHI SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THE CONGRESS PARTY WILL BE
ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT ON ITS OWN WITH OUTSIDE SUPPORT FROM
FROM ITS ALLIES WHO VOTED WITH THE THE CONGRESS PARTY LAST
SATURDAY TO OUST PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE. AT THE SAME TIME SONIA
GANDHI IS GIVING NO INDICATION OF WHETHER SHE WILL BE PRIME
MINISTER, SAYING SUCH QUESTIONS ARE PREMATURE.
// OPT // THERE ARE 545 SEATS IN INDIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF
PARLIAMENT AND MEMBERS OF MR. VAJPAYEE'S PARTY SAY, EVEN THOUGH
THEY LOST LAST SATURDAY'S CONFIDENCE MOTION, THEY HAVE MORE
SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT THAN THE CONGRESS PARTY DOES. THEY SAY
THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR STRENGTH BY BEING
ALLOWED TO TRY AND FORM A GOVERNMENT ON THEIR OWN. SONIA GANDHI
SAYS SHE BELIEVES THE NUMBERS ARE ON HER SIDE.
// INSERT GANDHI ACTUALITY //
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NUMBERS THEY CLAIM TO HAVE. THEY
SAY, I BELIEVE, THEY HAVE 270, WELL WE HAVE 272 AND WE
HOPE TO GET MORE. WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WILL GET MORE.
// END ACTUALITY // // END OPT //
WHILE SHE APPEARS CONFIDENT, SONIA GANDHI WAS CHALLENGED
WEDNESDAY BY A KEY ALLY. MALAYAM SINGH YADAV, WHOSE PARTY HAS 20
DEPUTIES AND WHO VOTED WITH SONIA GANDHI TO BRING THE VAJPAYEE
GOVERNMENT DOWN, SAYS HE HAS GIVEN NO ASSURANCES HE WILL BACK
HER EFFORTS TO FORM A GOVERNMENT.
MR. YADAV'S COMMENTS CAME AS PARLIAMENT WAS DISRUPTED BY
ACCUSATIONS THE CONGRESS PARTY IS TRYING TO BRIBE SOME
LEGISLATORS TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT-- SOMETHING SONIA GANDHI
STRONGLY DENIED ON WEDNESDAY.
THE DISRUPTION LED TO PARLIAMENT BEING ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY.
BECAUSE OF THAT LEGISLATORS WERE UNABLE TO APPROVE A BUDGET FOR
THIS YEAR BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO TRY AGAIN ON THURSDAY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/KL
21-Apr-99 9:28 AM EDT (1328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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