'No decision on SP, RJD joining UPA'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agency
New Delhi, May17 2009:
Congress on Sunday gave indications that it may include only pre-poll allies in the new Union Government leaving out those who had parted company just before the Lok Sabha polls �Samajwadi Party and RJD.
The party's highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee, discussed the scenario after the announcement of the results which have given it a near absolute majority, but there was no specific mention of parties or individuals such as SP or Lalu Prasad, chief of the RJD.
However, the working committee was emphatic that discussions would be held on Tuesday with "pre-poll allies", parties like DMK, Trinamool Congress and NCP, to discuss the strategy how to go about Cabinet formation.
The hour-long meeting took place immediately after the SP and Deve Gowda's JD(S) had offered to support the UPA which is about 11 seats short of 272, which will give the coalition an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.
Amid reports that the general view within the party was that Samajwadi Party, which had been a difficult ally, should be kept out, although it has 23 seats, Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi said there was no discussion on specific individual or party in the CWC meeting.
Lalu Prasad, whose RJD has four seats, has clearly indicated keenness to stay in the new Cabinet.
It is, however, not clear what decision the Congress would take about him.
Cong keeps Lalu waiting, no decision on Cabinet berth.
The Congress on Sunday said any decision on including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in the government would be taken only after discussions with its pre-poll allies.
"No discussion took place about anybody--this was not on the agenda.
After the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, we will sit with our pre-poll alliance partners and discuss future aspects," Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters here after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee.
The Congress Parliamentary Party meeting is scheduled for 1100 hrs IST on Tuesday.
With his party reduced to just four Lok Sabha seats, Prasad said on Sunday he would "always" support the UPA, whether or not he is part of the new government.
On his arrival in Delhi after being called by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to attend a meeting of the outgoing cabinet on Monday, the Railway Minister said: "I being a part of the government or not is another thing.
We will always support the UPA".