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Sonia names Arjun Singh 'political spokesman'

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today appointed senior politician Arjun Singh as the 'authorised spokesman' to deal with issues relating to the current political situation.

Congress officials told Rediff On The NeT that Gandhi was fed up of the varying statements by different party politicians, creating confusion and sending out wrong signals.

Singh immediately restated the party line today, that the Congress is not interested in toppling the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, but will not shirk its "constitutional responsibility".

Asked if the Congress is ready to assume the mantle of power if the government collapses, he quipped, "We go by neither assumptions nor by presumptions."

Singh clarified that till now no Congress politician had had any talks with any AIADMK politician, least of all with general secretary J Jayalalitha.

But he also said the Congress had set no preconditions for talks with her. Nor was he aware of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister having sought any appointment with the Congress president.

He denied that the Congress had given a signal to Jayalalitha or anybody else to topple the Vajpayee government, or given any assurance about forming an alternative.

Asked when he estimates the government will collapse, he merely said, "One thing will lead to another."

But he also emphasised that a mid-term election is not on his party's agenda. Its priority, he said, is to see that the country's unity and integrity are protected and communal forces do not extract undue advantage from the fluid political situation.

The Congress stance of keeping a safe distance from all sides indicates that the party wants to steer clear of controversies. The chief political spokesman's assertion that "rest assured, we will take the right initiative at the right time" indicates that the party may act decisively when it feels the moment is opportune.

Meanwhile, in the absence of concrete political moves, especially by Jayalalitha, rumours have been flying thick and fast. The private secretary of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda today denied a STAR TV report that he had organised a dinner in honour of the AIADMK chief which would also be attended by Sonia Gandhi.

Following this, the Left parties too are maintaining their distance from Jayalalitha. Political observers say things will start moving only after the AIADMK formally withdraws support to the government.

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