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In India: Political war of nerves
Congress party threatens to topple prime minister
April 3, 1997
Web posted at: 3:58 p.m. EST (2058 GMT)In this story:
- Congress party stands firm against Gowda
- Compromise to avoid new elections?
- Related stories and sites
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- India's Congress party said on Thursday it would press ahead with its effort to topple Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, but Gowda's ruling coalition predicted its rival would opt for a face-saving bargain to avert elections.
The Congress party and Gowda's United Front coalition pursued their war of nerves ahead of a vote of confidence set for April 11.
The political crisis was triggered on Sunday when the Congress party announced it was withdrawing support for Gowda's 10-month-old minority government.
Congress blames the government's economic policies for India's high unemployment and price increases. It also accuses the ruling coalition of supporting the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Congress party leader K. Karunakaran said on Thursday that the decision would not be reconsidered.
"Mr. Deve Gowda will be prime minister until April 11 only," he said.
Compromise to avoid new elections?
However, United Front leaders said talks were under way to explore a possible settlement to the crisis, which has paralyzed Gowda's efforts to enact a path-breaking, tax-cutting budget.
They also predicted the Congress party would eventually withdraw its threat because it was reluctant to face mid-term polls after suffering its worst defeat last year in general elections.
A recent opinion poll showed that the BJP would stand to gain at Congress's expense if elections were held this summer, four years ahead of schedule.
The BJP and its allies control 193 votes in the 542-member lower house. The United Front has 180 votes and Congress 140. Gowda would need a simple majority of members present and voting to win the confidence motion.
He could also survive if the BJP abstains from voting, a scenario party leader L.K. Advani did not rule out. "Why should we take a particular stand today when all possibilities are there?" he asked.
But if Gowda should fall, the Congress party will try to form its own government by trying to encourage defections from the current ruling coalition. The Congress party also would have to decide who to name prime minister -- party President Sitaram Kesri, or a leader from a smaller party within the new coalition.
New Delhi Bureau Chief Anita Pratap and Reuters contributed to this report.
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- India, Pakistan start first talks in 3 years - March 28, 1997
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