The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party rebels are in a fix. Just before the results were declared, they were expecting good days.
The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party rebels are in a fix. Just before the results were declared, they were expecting good days, what with most exit polls predicting that the results would be like that of 1995, where no party would be able to form a government without support from the rebels. Post-elections, however, it is a different story.
The Congress-NCP alliance does not need them to form the government and if they are required then it is simply to strengthen their numbers in the Assembly. “We don’t need rebels and Independents for government stability anymore. Both the parties (NCP and Congress) will have to take a stand on whether to bring back the interested rebels into our folds,” said Prakash Binsale, NCP spokesperson. Anant Gadgil, spokesperson, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee said, “We will even take their support from outside to consolidate our position inside the Assembly. We would like to keep all the secular forces together”.
There is, however, some work being done behind the scenes. The Congress and the NCP are holding talks with important rebels and Independents. “We are keen on taking the support of independents and rebels. But we may seek only for their support from the outside, if we are unable to give them a bigger role in the government,” admits Manickrao Thackre, Congress leader.
Today, the fact is that the rebels cannot make demands on their own terms and conditions. There are 12 rebels and 13 Independents and the DF government is reportedly in touch with 10 of them. “I have received calls from both the NCP and Congress. We rebels and a few Independents have got together and formed a group. We will meet leaders from both sides and opt for the party that allows us to perform to our best,” said Dilip Sopal, a rebel.
“Some good rebels have been elected. Our party made some mistakes and they had been denied tickets. Some of them want to return and we will try to get them justice,” said Suresh Dhas, NCP leader who is responsible for holding talks with the rebels.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}