PM cornered in Cong-Left war

NEW DELHI, July 28: Perpetual enemies that they are, the Congress and Left have stepped up their bitter exchange of late. Prime Minister IK...

NEW DELHI, July 28: Perpetual enemies that they are, the Congress and Left have stepped up their bitter exchange of late. Prime Minister IK Gujral is the one caught in the crossfire especially with Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet penchant for shooting his mouth off at the slightest provocation.

What began as an occasional war of words has now escalated into daily sniping with no inch being spared. Surjeet’s latest explosive interview to a private TV channel may become the catalyst to destruction of a delicate relationship between the Congress and United Front.

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Surjeet, in a long talk with IK Gujral some days ago, apparently suggested that the Prime Minister dissolve the House and go in for fresh polls rather than reduce the United Front’s credibility each passing day.

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Gujral, who not unnaturally harbours a desire to address the nation on its 50th year of independence, is in no mood to entertain Surjeet’s uncomfortable suggestions.

The Premier then reportedly sought Sitaram Kesri’s help and hinted that the Congress president keep up the pressure on the Left, especially the CPI(M) – which Kesri is only too glad to do.

In this context, Surjeet’s TV interview, castigating the Congress, admitting to lack of unity within the UF and hinting that Mulayam Singh Yadav would make a better Prime Minister than IK Gujral, came as a ready stick to beat the CPM with.

“The CPI(M) is so obsessed with anti-Congressism that it has lost all balance. Surjeet has said the Congress is a party of self-seekers which is an insult to lakhs of Congressmen who by their service and sacrifice have enriched our party,” said Congress spokesperson V N Gadgil today.

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He added that the CPI(M) insists on clinging to its outdated anti-Congressism. On Surjeet’s more controversial statement that Mulayam Singh Yadav would have made a better Prime Minister than Gujral, Gadgil said it reflects a loss of balance. “He is making all kinds of statements. They have all turned against Gujral.’

The other factor fuelling the Congress-Left battle is the change in perspective of both sides. Till two months ago, the Left was keen to see that the United Front stay in power for the full term and Kesri was raring to take over as Prime Minister.

The roles have thus been reversed. The CPI(M) is now fed up with the UF’s penchant for controversies, as Surjeet has been indicating for the last few days, while the Congress is keen to keep its prime enemy, the BJP, at bay. As one Left leader put it, “Since Kesri has publicly sought time before an election, we want to see he is not given that time.’