DATE=10/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA / CONGRESS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254901
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In India, the defeated Congress party has
reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of Italian-born
Sonia Gandhi, electing her as head of their
parliamentary party. In the recent national
elections, the Congress Party lost to the Hindu-
nationalist coalition in the party's worst defeat
ever. After the poor showing, some questions were
raised whether the results would erode Mrs. Gandhi's
hold on India's oldest political party - but Congress
legislators say she continues to be their unquestioned
leader. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha has a report.
Text: In a closed-door meeting Tuesday, newly elected
Congress Party lawmakers unanimously elected Sonia
Gandhi leader of the parliamentary party. Before the
vote, Mrs. Gandhi said she was taking full blame for
the party's defeat in the recent elections and was
willing to work for the party in any capacity.
But party members indicated they want Mrs. Gandhi to
lead the party "from the front" as it attempts to
recover from the recent electoral debacle. The party
won only 112 seats in the recent elections - its
smallest number ever in the 545-member house. Despite
the losses, Congress spokesperson Ajit Jogi says there
is no dissent in the party.
/// JOGI ACT ///
She is the supreme leader, she is the unanimous
leader, she is acceptable to all, and that has
again been proved in today's election.
/// END ACT ///
Senior Congress leader Salman Khursheed also said the
party was rallying behind Mrs. Gandhi.
/// INSERT KHURSHEED ACT ///
Absolutely, you saw it today, it (the Congress)
is absolutely behind Mrs. Gandhi.
/// END ACT ///
Although Mrs. Gandhi's position remains unchallenged,
there could be changes in the Congress Party's top
leadership. After the party's defeat, some younger
leaders called for a "generational change" -
indicating they would like her to replace some of her
most trusted advisers.
Several of the senior leaders have resigned in recent
days, blaming themselves for the party's defeat. The
resignations are being interpreted as a ploy to
insulate Mrs. Gandhi from criticism for the party's
performance in the elections - and give Mrs. Gandhi an
opportunity to overhaul the party.
(OPT)
Mrs. Gandhi has not yet decided whether she will
take the official role of leader of the opposition in
parliament. Some members say she may not be able to
handle the job because she speaks Hindi poorly.
(END OPT)
As the leader of the Congress Party, Mrs. Gandhi has a
difficult task ahead. Political analysts say her
party's resounding defeat in the elections shows the
charisma of the Nehru-Gandhi family is no longer
enough to mobilize voters. They also say Mrs.
Gandhi's foreign birth and inexperience in public
affairs may have had a greater effect on voters than
the party would like to admit. The Congress Party
rejects this line of reasoning, saying Mrs. Gandhi's
easy victory in both the parliamentary districts she
contested shows that voters are not concerned about
her Italian ancestry.
Mrs. Gandhi took charge of the party in 1998, hoping
to reverse the steady decline in its political
fortunes -- but so far she has failed to stem the
decline. (Signed)
NEB/AP/KL
12-Oct-1999 08:56 AM EDT (12-Oct-1999 1256 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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