'Verdict a rejection of NDA misrule'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 14. Riding high after its success in the Assembly elections, the Congress today said the Vajpayee Government had ``lost its political authority following its rout in the mini- generals.''

Briefing newspersons this afternoon, the party spokesperson, Mr. Jaipal Reddy said the ``results were a resounding rejection of the misrule of the NDA.'' He described the result as a manifestation of the people's indignation at the ``anti-people and anti-farmer policies of the NDA Government and the rampant corruption demonstrated by the Tehelka expose.''

``Mr. Vajpayee can adopt an ostrich-like attitude and bury his head in the sand of shame but facts will continue to haunt him to his electoral graveyard.''

He said the results were an auspicious beginning of a process that would bring secular forces back to the Red Fort under the leadership of the Congress.'' The balance of forces was tilting in favor of the secular forces, he added.

The party's expectations were ``more than adequately fulfilled in all the States except West Bengal,'' Mr. Reddy said adding the verdict was important both in terms of numbers and quality of the message. ``In this election, we see a perceptible trend, of people having a nostalgia for the Congress.''

The party also patted itself on the back for the strategy adopted in the current elections. Mr. Reddy complimented the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, for being single-handedly responsible for getting Mr. Moopanar into the secular front-led by the AIADMK. Mr Reddy said that though the party was Though the party was sad for losing in Bengal, ``we are happy that we have been reunited with our soul-mate, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, and at having prevented the BJP from opening its account in the State.''

Referring to Tamil Nadu, he said his party welcomed the decision of the Governor to invite Ms. Jayalalitha to form the Government. On Pondicherry, though the two parties fought separately ,the Congress would welcome the support of the AIADMK in forming the government.

Krishna compliments

PTI reports:

In Bangalore, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, today offered his congratulations to Ms. Jayalalitha on the occasion of assuming office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In a letter faxed to her, Mr. Krishna lauded the ``spectacular win''of her party in the elections.

Respect for people's verdict: Laloo

Meanwhile, in Patna, the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, today congratulated the AIADMK leader, Ms. J. Jayalalitha, on her becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. ``The Governor's decision to administer oath of office and secrecy to her is a respect for people's verdict,'' he said.

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