CWC to discuss seat-sharing strategy on Thursday
The Congress Working Committee will decide on the broad contours of negotiations with allies. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar will come up for particular attention.
By Urmi A Goswami, ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee, which is meeting here on Thursday, will decide on the broad contours of negotiations with allies. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar will come up for particular attention.
While the UP issue is being directly handled by the party president, Jharkhand is proving to be a tough call for the Congress. The state unit is against any pact with JMM. which it considers to be considerably discredited. The Congress central leadership will find it difficult to buy this line as a three-way split of votes will only help NDA.
The leadership, sources said, may push for simultaneous assembly polls in Jharkhand. Shibu Soren is yet to get on board and he is insisting on an alternate arrangement in Ranchi. He has forwarded names of two candidates to the Congress leadership for the CM���s post.
In neighbouring Bihar, Ram Vilas Paswan���s LJP has upped the ante by placing an ���unreasonable demand��� of 16 seats. LJP, which won just four seats in the last polls, is a politically influential force. The Congress is hoping that the lack of political option ��� the NDA may just not be able to meet Mr Paswan���s demand ��� would prompt the LJP to stay with UPA.
As a marginal force in Bihar, Congress depends on Mr Lalu Prasad for survival. Mr Prasad, who shares a good rapport with it, may be more mindful of the Congress��� interests. NCP could become part of UPA in the state too. In the event of it striking a deal with Mr Prasad, Mr Tariq Anwar will contest from Katiyar.
The most troublesome for the Congress would be NCP. Sharad Pawar, who has opened channels of communication with important NDA players, is expected to drive a hard bargain. The Congress will be unwilling to accede as any accretion in NCP���s numbers will increase the scope for post-poll mischief.
The Tamil Nadu alliance is also being pulled in different directions. The PMK, a constant irritant, has been taking a tough line against the Centre despite being part of the government. With Jayalalithaa eyeing an alliance with it, things will get clear only closer to the polls. The Congress will also have to manage the fallout of the Lankan crisis on Tamil Nadu���s politics.
While the UP issue is being directly handled by the party president, Jharkhand is proving to be a tough call for the Congress. The state unit is against any pact with JMM. which it considers to be considerably discredited. The Congress central leadership will find it difficult to buy this line as a three-way split of votes will only help NDA.
The leadership, sources said, may push for simultaneous assembly polls in Jharkhand. Shibu Soren is yet to get on board and he is insisting on an alternate arrangement in Ranchi. He has forwarded names of two candidates to the Congress leadership for the CM���s post.
In neighbouring Bihar, Ram Vilas Paswan���s LJP has upped the ante by placing an ���unreasonable demand��� of 16 seats. LJP, which won just four seats in the last polls, is a politically influential force. The Congress is hoping that the lack of political option ��� the NDA may just not be able to meet Mr Paswan���s demand ��� would prompt the LJP to stay with UPA.
As a marginal force in Bihar, Congress depends on Mr Lalu Prasad for survival. Mr Prasad, who shares a good rapport with it, may be more mindful of the Congress��� interests. NCP could become part of UPA in the state too. In the event of it striking a deal with Mr Prasad, Mr Tariq Anwar will contest from Katiyar.
The most troublesome for the Congress would be NCP. Sharad Pawar, who has opened channels of communication with important NDA players, is expected to drive a hard bargain. The Congress will be unwilling to accede as any accretion in NCP���s numbers will increase the scope for post-poll mischief.
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The Tamil Nadu alliance is also being pulled in different directions. The PMK, a constant irritant, has been taking a tough line against the Centre despite being part of the government. With Jayalalithaa eyeing an alliance with it, things will get clear only closer to the polls. The Congress will also have to manage the fallout of the Lankan crisis on Tamil Nadu���s politics.
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