CPM accepted change of PM to spare nation of fresh polls: Basu - The Times of India

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The CPM had revised its position to accept a change of Prime Minister only bowing
to public opinion against another general election, and to prevent the BJP from
taking advantage of the instability created by the Congress' withdrawal of support
to the Deve Gowda government, said West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu on
Wednesday.

Addressing a rally of the state unit of the All India Democratic Women's
Association, Mr Basu lashed out at the Congress for its "irresponsible action"
which had plunged the country into political instability. Mr Basu who spent most
of this month in New Delhi trying to find a solution to the political crisis said
it was still not clear why the Congress had withdrawn support and why it had
agreed to extend support once again.

The withdrawal of support by the Congress was not based on any principled
opposition, he said. Congress leaders had complained about Mr Deve Gowda and
insisted that he be removed. Mr Basu said this was an "excuse" and not an
explanation. Congress leaders had told him that Mr Gowda had insulted and
humiliated the party and its leaders in Parliament and outside and so the support
was withdrawn.

Mr Basu said, "I told them, we have known each other for a long time, we could
have talked things over. What was the need to bring down the government over
this?" On the new arrangements, Mr Basu asserted, "The government is ours, the
policies are ours" though the Congress will be consulted and kept informed. The
Congress would not be associated with the United Front government, except
informally, he added.

Reiterating the position of the UF government, Mr Basu said it represented a
"third force" which was neither the Congress nor the BJP, but comprised
democratic, secular political parties, many of whom were regional. The federalism
of India was reflected in the UF's composition, where as many as ten state parties
were represented, he added.

The instability created by the Congress, Mr Basu feared, would affect the
development of the country. He emphasised the need to continue with the common
minimum programme (CMP) hammered out by the United Front ten months ago. Very
little had been achieved on the CMP, but this would be the purpose of the UF
government now.

Mr Basu warned that the BJP was not like any other political party. "It is a
communal force and if BJP came- to power it would destroy the unique culture of
unity-in-diversity which is India." The Congress had become weak, and Mr Basu
implied, desperate. It had also been corroded by corruption.

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