INDIA's shaken Congress (I) ruling party yesterday reversed its decision to expel five of its top members but said it was strong enough to withstand dissidence within the ranks of its leadership.
The Prime Minister, Mr P. V. Narasimha Rao, who is also the president of the 110 year old Congress, said his party was not troubled by "turbulence," hinting at the rebellion simmering in the top echelons of the party.
"The Congress is strong enough to overcome inner turbulence and will play its historic role in shaping India's future," Mr Rao (74) told a group of opposition supporters.
Mr Rao's comments came as the Congress hastily said the expulsions ordered this week for the five leaders including former textile minister, Mr Kamal Nath, and former human resource development minister, Mr Madhavrao Scindia, were invalid.
The five leaders were expelled after they announced plans to run against official ruling party candidates in the staggered April May polls, but Mr Gadgil said the party was holding back the expulsions.
Observers said the U turn was a frantic move by the now shaky Congress to woo back the five leaders into the party fold ahead of the elections, widely expected to produce a hung parliament.
Mr Nath was one of a dozen odd ministers who have quit Mr Rao's cabinet since January after federal detectives linked then to a huge bribery scandal which has stung almost all political parties.
The ruling party split last May when two of its top leaders launched a rival Congress.