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India's Rao is cool to predictions of hung parliament

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, dismissing predictions of a hung parliament, told voters in his home state on Wednesday that only his Congress party could provide stable rule.

"Today, we do not have a good alternative to the Congress," Rao was quoted by the United News of India (UNI) as saying at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh state.

Rao appeared unperturbed by suggestions that his party would be hurt by the corruption scandals that chequered his five-year rule and by disgruntled party leaders upset over his electoral alliances and choice of candidates.

He was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI) as saying in his constituency of Nandyal that opinion polls forecasting a hung parliament should not be taken seriously.

"People know that it (a hung parliament) will not be good. Except for once, the people have voted for stability." he said.

"Opposition parties in two digits (of seats) will in no way be useful except for bargaining," Rao said.

Voting is staggered over five days between April 27 and May 30 for 543 lower house, or Lok Sabha, seats.

The 74-year-old Rao has to cope with rising opposition strength on two fronts, from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the one hand and a left-wing alliance grouping low-caste parties and communists on the other.

Seven of Rao's ministers quit to face charges in a $18-million hawala, or illegal foreign exchange, scandal that linked bribes to favours.

All say they are innocent but were denied party tickets.

Some who rebelled against Rao were pacified, but three of them, Madhavrao Scindia, P. Chidambaram and M. Arunachalam, have allied themselves with breakaway groups.

But Rao did not seem worried as he hopped across his state in an Indian Air Force helicopter.

"There is no division in the Congress and the only problem with the party is that there many deserving candidates for the limited seats," The Times of India quoted him as saying.-Reuter