NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Congress today said that the November 25 Assembly elections in four states would have a definite impact on the government at the Centre.While speaking to reporters party spokespersons Mani Shankar Aiyar and Ambika Soni said that the immediate impact would be on the ruling coalition partners. None of the allies were happy about the kind of relationship they shared with the BJP, they said.
Asked whether the Congress would join hands with the disgruntled allies after they broke up with the BJP, Aiyar said, ``Political parties were always in touch with one another in a democratic set up and it was hypothetical to discuss the issue of joining hands with them. We will see when they choose to give up their support to the BJP.''
He said going by the pre-election trends, the defeat of the BJP combine in all the four states was certain and there would be a shake up after the elections.
Referring to the BJP claiming entire credit for the formation of Chhattisgarh state in Madhya Pradesh,Aiyar and Soni said the BJP leadership had failed to distinguish between myth and reality. Infact it was the Congress which first raised the demand way back in 1924 when Raipur district committee passed a resolution to this effect.
The 1993 election manifesto of the Congress in MP had promised carving out of Chhattisgarh state and faithfully convened a special session of the Assembly and passed a resolution in this regard. Passing such a resolution in 1998 did not mean a delay because the promise was meant to be implemented in five year's time frame.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.