NEW DELHI, March 24: The National Conference is facing a revolt from within its parliamentary party with one of its MPs, Saifuddin Soz, attacking party chief Farooq Abdullah for his decision to support the BJP government.
In a sharp statement today, he described Farooq’s decision as “politics of compromise” and hinted that he might have to part ways with him if there was no change in his stand.
Yesterday, Soz had attended the core committee meeting of the United Front which described the Telugu Desam Party and the NC’s stance to desert the coalition as unfortunate.
“I have been loyal to the leader and the party to the best of my ability, even during the bad times. My loyalty to the leader and the party will continue unless the party itself feels that I am no longer wanted there,” Soz said in his statement.
He said that it was wrong for Farooq to have taken such a major decision without consulting the party’s working committee. “Now, consulting the working committee after extending total moralsupport to the BJP, besides declaring support to the BJP’s candidate for Speakership is nothing short of adding insult to the injury,” he remarked. The NC leader felt that there was no need for forming a new front with the TDP and the Asom Gana Parishad. “The idea was only a camouflage for the wily Naidu’s change of strategy to support the BJP on his own conditions,” he said.
Short-term political gains involving many awkward compromises were no substitute for enduring pro-people political assertions which always rested on calm reflection and cool thinking, he said.