Congress Ready to be Opposition

The Congress seems to be reconciled to sitting in the Opposition despite former Union defence minister Sharad Pawar and Congress Working Committee member Ghulam Nabi Azad flexing their muscles.

"After all, it is a democracy and we should let the BJP form a government if we cannot do it. We can attempt to form a government only if the United Front remains intact and gives us support, which is remote now."

At an informal CWC meeting held on Friday at Congress President Sitaram Kesri's home, even the latter was reportedly convinced that the party was not in a position to form a government at the Centre.

The general mood in the party is that they should attempt to form a government only if the BJP fails to do so. The party seems to be banking on the inherent instability in the BJP alliance.

"We will strike when dissidence rips apart the saffron alliance," said a former Maharashtra minister. "But the problem is that even now, with the kind of enthusiasm that some of our leaders have been showing, it would be difficult to stop our detractors in the party from ganging up against us."

Referring to Pawar's opposition to the plan, the leader said, "Agreed that Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav will leave no stone unturned to stop the BJP from coming to power. But, knowing Yadav's prime ministerial ambitions, how can we trust him?"

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