Coalition govts are disastrous: Kesri

Congress president Sitaram Kesri on Friday inaugurated the party's plenary session with a blistering attack on the Communist Party of India-Marxist. He said the CPI-M was aiding the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kesri also made it clear to the United Front that the Congress would not keep its eyes shut while extending support.

Earlier, the Congress chief said that coalition governments in the country have proved disastrous. All development work, he complained, has come to a halt due to an unstable government at the Centre and in some states.

Talking to mediapersons on his way from New Delhi to Calcutta to take part in the 80th AICC plenary session, Kesri asserted that only the Congress could offer a strong and stable government at the Centre.

His assertion on coalition governments will be the focus of the AICC session. The party will also highlight the stability plank in view of the likelihood of a mid-term election.

Despite such sharp focus the meeting may not be a smooth affair due the Congress Working Committee elections and rebel Congress leader Mamta Banerjee's resolve to hold a rally on Saturday.

Kesri, however, made it clear that he was not interested in grabbing power right now. ''Our intention is to make the organisation strong and popular among the masses,'' he added.

As for the Left parties's attitude towards the Congress, Kesri said, "The Left should support us in our fight against communalism and casteism." They alone cannot fight against the communal and reactionary forces, he stated.

Asked if Sonia Gandhi would attend the session, Kesri replied she had not turned down the invitation. He refused to divulge any details on ground of security.

Asked about rebel party leader Mamta Banerjee who has threatened to hold a parallel rally on Saturday, the Congress president deflted the inquiry, saying, ''She is like my daughter. I will talk to her if she wants to do so.'' However, Banerjee declined to meet Kesri and sort out the vexed problem of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee reconstitution and refused to call off her proposed rally.

Congress vice-president Jitendra Prasada has had two rounds of talks with Banerjee. Former Union minister Margaret Alva has now been asked to persuade Banerjee to give up her rigid stand.

Meanwhile, elections to the 10 Congress Working Committee seats appeared certain with a large number of candidates insisting on an election.

The three-day session is expected to pass several resolutions including the one on the international situation. Besides reiterating the party's commitment to the six-nation initiative on disarmament launched by the late Rajiv Gandhi, the party will emphasise the relevance of the non-aligned movement.

Another resolution would call for improving relations with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

A resolution would also be adopted on the 50th year of the country's independence and the Congress party's contribution during both the pre and post-Independence eras.

During his stay in Calcutta, Kesri will stay at the home of the late scientist U N Bramachari who invented a vaccine for fighting the dreaded kala azar disease which claimed thousands of lives in Bengal in the 1930s.

UNI

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