DATE=8/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA - ELECTIONS (L ONLY)(CQ)
NUMBER=2-253197
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// Re-issuing to correct, in eighth graf of text, name
of Indira Gandhi's daughter. Should read: Priyanka
Vadra //
INTRO: The leader of India's main opposition Congress
Party, Italian-born Sonia Gandhi has launched her
campaign from the election district of Bellary in
southern India, from where she is contesting the
upcoming general elections. Anjana Pasricha reports
from New Delhi, the district race pits Mrs. Gandhi
against a prominent Hindu nationalist leader.
TEXT: Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi told
thousands of voters Friday in the small South Indian
town of Bellary in Karnataka state, "I have made India
my own, I am tied to the Indian soil."
Mrs. Gandhi defended her commitment to the nation
after her chief opponent in the constituency,
Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Sushma Swaraj,
questioned her credentials as a political leader due
to her foreign birth.
Bellary town was little known until ten days ago. But
it has sprung into national prominence since the
country's two most high-profile women politicians -
Mrs. Gandhi and Mrs. Swaraj decided to fight elections
from here.
Observers say Mrs. Gandhi chose to contest from
Bellary because it is usually a "safe seat" that
always elects Congress party candidates.
But the B-J-P has put up a strong challenge to Mrs.
Gandhi by running one of its most prominent leaders
against her. Campaigning in the streets of Bellary,
Mrs.Swaraj is emphasizing Mrs. Gandhi's foreign
background, and has revived a debate on whether a
foreign-born national should become prime minister.
Addressing a series of campaign rallies, she is asking
people to "accept the Indian woman, reject the foreign
woman." Mrs. Swaraj has been a federal minister and
Chief Minister of Delhi.
This is the first time Mrs. Gandhi is running for
public office. Mrs. Gandhi's foreign birth became a
dominant issue in the elections after her party began
to project her as its prime ministerial candidate.
But Congress Party leaders say this is not a
relevant issue for most Indians. Congress
spokesperson, Ambika Soni says the party is confident
Mrs. Gandhi's foreign birth will not have any impact
on voting.
/// ACT SONIA GANDHI ///
Not in Bellary, and nowhere else. You find the
response of people irrespective of what the BJP
leaders say welcoming Sonia Gandhi. All the
polls which have conducted in the recent past
speak of this issue as one of the lowest
priority if any priority at all.
///End Soni act///
Mrs. Gandhi is accompanied on her campaign by her
daughter, Priyanka Vadra. Observers say this is an
attempt to deflect criticism of her foreign birth.
The Congress Party also hopes to gain votes through
campaign appearances by members of the Nehru-Gandhi
political dynasty that has governed India for 37 of
its 52 years of Independence.
Mrs. Gandhi's political future does not depend on
Bellary alone. She is also contesting from the Gandhi
family's traditional seat in Northern India.
The Congress Party is trailing in opinion polls. The
polls are projecting the B-J-P led coalition as the
frontrunner.
Bellary goes to the polls on September 5th. Results
will only be known a month later when counting begins
early October after the entire country has voted in
the staggered polls being held in five phases.
(Signed)
NEB/AP/KL
27-Aug-1999 15:21 PM EDT (27-Aug-1999 1921 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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