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Pawar & Co launch Nationalist Congress

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Congress rebels Sharad Pawar, Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar today formally launched the Nationalist Congress Party and appealed to all "self-respecting Congressmen" to join it.

Asked why they did not use the name 'Indian National Congress', Pawar said that could have run into trouble with the Election Commission. "Since we did not have much time, we thought of four names out of which we got clearance for three and decided to name our party the Nationalist Congress Party," he explained.

"Our agenda is preservation and strengthening of the Indian nationality and identity; and building on the bedrock of this identity an India of unity and integrity that will draw its sustenance and strength from the forces of federalism, a polity of stable participatory democracy, an enlightened society and social justice, a secular coalition of immense diversity, a non-exploitative and self-reliant economy providing prosperity through competition, a nation that will strengthen the forces of peace within the country and in the world. We seek the support and participation of all who substantially share our agenda," said Pawar in a four-page signed statement.

But when his attention was drawn to the fact that the party's aims and objectives say nothing about the rebels' demand that only those who are born Indians should be eligible for the posts of President, vice-president and prime minister, Pawar said it would be included in the electoral manifesto.

Asked why Congressmen are not joining his party in droves as he had said they would, Pawar said three senior politicians -- former Union ministers Jagdeep Dhankar from Rajasthan and Baleshwar Ram from Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh's K Prabhakar Reddy -- have already joined them. "From tomorrow you will see more and more Congressmen joining the party."

"From tomorrow we will brief you about developments in our party on a daily basis," promised P A Sangma. Sangma and Anwar have been named general secretaries of the Nationalist Congress while Pawar is its president.

Pawar, leader of the Opposition in the twelfth Lok Sabha, admitted that he had met both former prime minister Chandrashekhar and former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. "I met Mulayam Singh Yadav because there was a tragedy in his family. I did discuss political developments, but we will hold formal talks with various political parties after our national convention from June 10 to 12 in Bombay. After the convention we will name an ad-hoc committee to deal with issues relating to the forthcoming election."

Asked how many seats the new party would contest and under what symbol, Pawar said the symbol would be decided in 15 days. "We have just got our party registered with the Election Commission. We will have to fulfil some requirements before getting the symbol. As for the number of seats we will contest, the matter will be decided after our national convention next month," he added.

Pawar was confident that in the days to come many more Congressmen would desert the "Sonia Congress" and join them.

Asked why there has been no response from the North-East, Sangma said the North-East normally reacts slowly and "it will take some time before you start getting results".

Earlier report

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