The Congress, as a political party believing in democratic values has witnessed bouts of internal differences on occasions. Where it was a clash of reaction and dynamism or where the opposition was between extremism and order, a split did come about.
There is speculation now whether any such split is in the offing now. In print media terminology, there is considerable conflict between Narasimha Rao loyalists and Arjun Singh loyalists. But Arjun Singh is not a Netaji or Nijalingappa and there is no syndicate in the Congress unlike as was the case in 1969.
Mr Arjun Singh ostensibly wants to say that the White Paper on Ayodhya has avoided stating certain facts. It is a truism that when a politician begins his speech saying the fact is, fact is either a fiction or the truth is the exact opposite of it.
He faults Mr Narasimha Rao for believing what was assured by Mr Kalyan Singh. Mr Chandrasekhar has gone a step further and said that Mr Narasimha Rao was betrayed by Mr Kalyan Singh because the former allowed himself to be betrayed without taking care to check on affidavits.
Do these two gentlemen really mean that an assurance by a responsible person has to be suspected? If so and if Mr Narasimha Rao had dismissed the UP government earlier than he did, would not is selfsame persons have accused him of stabbing democracy?
Mr Arjun Singh now says that Mr Narasimha Rao’s Ayodhya policy has caused confusion among the leaders of his party and its rank and file. And it is this same Mr Arjun Singh who has gone on record expressing solidarity with Mr Narasimha Rao before and after the no-confidence motion against his regime.
Does it mean that Mr Arjun Singh wanted to save the Congress regime first and then fight out his quarrels with Mr Narasimha Rao thereafter? Obviously yes. From all available indications, it is clear that he wants to become the Prime Minister, ousting Mr Narasimha Rao and he has induced his loyalists to orchestrate the campaign against Mr Narasimha Rao.
There is no real crisis in the Congress except what it made out to be brewing by the Arjun Singh loyalists. Mr Arjun Singh must be aware that, if Mr Narasimha Rao goes, he will not be able to keep or hold the party together. The party consensus is for Mr Narasimha and not for Mr Arjun Singh.
The stance that one man cannot hold the two posts of headship of the government and of the party is motivated. It is a reflection of personal political ambition. If it were allowed to succeed, the clout of the Congress either as the majority party or the single largest party would be seriously undermined.
At this crisis hour created by Hindutva zeal, the Congress party chief and head of government have to be the same person. The party and the country cannot afford even a slight chance of a conflict between top men at this time. Mr Arjun Singh had better wait.
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