NEW DELHI, April 13: Final touches are being given to topple the Vajpayee government with the AIADMK leader, J Jayalalitha, set to deliver a letter to the Rashtrapati Bhawan tomorrow withdrawing support of her 18 Lok Sabha MPs to the BJP-led coalition government. Jaya's `final step' has now become inevitable since the Congress and the CPM have publicly stated today that it would be difficult for them to do political business with her unless she severs her ties with the BJP.V R Nedunchezhian, deputy general secretary of the AIADMK told a small group of journalists here this afternoon that the letter withdrawing would be delivered tomorrow. He declined to say whether Jayalalitha herself would meet the President or he would be meeting Narayanan on behalf of the party.
The fact that Jayalalitha brought Nedunchezhian, her confidant and number two in the party hierarchy with her to the Capital, also indicates that she may despatch him to the Rashtrapati Bhawan rather than going herself.
However, a finaldecision in this regard would be taken only tomorrow.Though there's still some hope in the Prime Minister's camp of a last-minute patch-up with Jayalalitha, hardliners like L K Advani, George Fernandes, Pramod Mahajan, P R Kumaramanglam and R K Hegde are working overtime to ``survive without Jayalalitha, come what may.'' It is, however, for the Prime Minister himself to invite Jayalalitha for a private meeting without compromising the honour of the party and the government, sources say.
While Mahajan is now saying that the BJP was always a minority government Kumaramanglam has been claiming that the government has a majority of 10 in the Lok Sabha even after 18 MPs of the AIADMK withdraw support.
But those working for almost 8 hours at 10 Janpath for the past one week (Arjun Singh, M L Fotedar, R D Pradhan, Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh), Leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar and CPM general secretary Harkishan Surjeet have been expressing the view that the government would lose in the trial ofstrength by a margin of at least 4 votes.
They say even if 15 MPs of the DMK, BSP and INLD abstain at the time of voting in the Lok Sabha, the government would require the support of 264 MPs in a house of 543. With AIADMK (18), and Arunachal Congress (1) withdrawing support, the government has no magic wand to survive.
In fact, the drama would unfold only after Jayalalitha withdraws support tomorrow. After her initial meetings with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha leaders, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav, tomorrow, she would be meeting others including Congress president Sonia Gandhi also.
Subramanian Swamy, Janata Party president, who met Jayalalitha twice today is understood to have discussed moves after withdrawal of support letter is given.
Day's events
Legal rap: The Centre defended the constitutional validity of Section III of the Prevention of Corruption Act under which the Tamil Nadu government had appointed three special judges two years ago to exclusively trycorruption cases against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha. DMK hardens stand: Decides not to back any alternative govt in which the AIADMK plays a part ``directly or indirectly.' Chautala softens: Indian National Lok Dal leader says if Centre wants his support, it should meet its demands. Sonia cool: Says she is prepared to meet Jaya if the situation demands. Left cold: Basu says Communist Party of India Marxist will not be in any front in which Jayalalitha is a partner.Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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