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This is the time to strike,
say Congressmen

George Iype in Bangalore

Bolstered by the Tehelka tapes that uncovered the sleazy defence deals in government, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will announce on Monday a plan of action to kickstart a national movement which she claims would ultimately lead to the downfall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

But what will be the Congress action plan? Will the party call for a no-confidence motion in Parliament? Will the party demand the prosecution of all the direct and indirect players mentioned in the Tehelka tapes?

Congress leaders say as the parliamentary numbers are against their favour, moving a no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee government at this juncture is ruled out. Therefore, it is unlikely that the Congress will take up the challenge thrown by Home Minister L K Advani to move a confidence vote against the government.

But Congress insiders say that the core of the plan of action will be Sonia's attempt to open up the party for discussions with other like-minded groups.

Now that the Congress has resolved its dilemma over coalition politics, party leaders claim, it is easier for them to sit with like-minded opposition groups to form an alliance that could replace the NDA at the Centre.

"Look, the Congress is a new, resurgent party now. There is no confusion on the issue of coalitions. We have clearly spelt out that the Congress is ready to form a viable, secular coalition of like-minded parties at the Centre," Ambika Soni, Congress general secretary told rediff.com.

Therefore, she said, the overwhelming feeling among the delegates who gathered in Bangalore for the 81st All India Congress Committee plenary session is that it is the appropriate time for the Congress to strike at the Vajpayee government.

Party strategists who are shaping Sonia's action plan reveal that the Congress will come out with a three-pronged approach to break the NDA coalition and oust the Vajpayee government:
a) kick-start a country-wide campaign against Vajpayee regime.
b) begin talks with various opposition parties for a possible coalition arrangement at the Centre.
c) prepare for the general elections.

"It was the Bofors defence scandal that hit the Congress fortunes. Any defence scam considerably affects the ruling parties whether it is the Congress or the BJP. Now that the BJP is feeling the heat of the Tehelka revelations, it is our chance," a senior Congress leader said.

If the opposition parties, including the recently-formed People's Front led by the Left forces, join hands with the Congress in the campaign, many in the party believe it will be the biggest-ever mass movement against corruption in the country.

According to Congress spokesperson Jaipal Reddy, it is now "an impossible proposition" that the Vajpayee coalition government will last for five years.

"I foresee the break-up of NDA and the collapse of the government very, very soon. Therefore, we are preparing a contingency plan to save the nation from the corrupt regime of the BJP," he said.

Many believe Sonia's indirect call on Sunday to her supporters to be ready for general elections is a definite indication that the party is not averse to a mid-term poll.

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