Monday, January 30 2006 17:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagpur: Veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue M G Vaidya has advocated a Congress- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance for the larger interest of the nation.

In his weekly column 'Bhashya' in a local Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat', Vaidya, a former spokesman of the RSS, said both parties should consider the proposal of an alliance.

"They should seriously think whether to have a truck with divisive, narrow-minded, selfish parties or have common programmes on administrative grounds, in the larger interest of the country's unity", Vaidya said in the column yesterday (Jan 30,2006).

Citing example of Germany, Vaidya said, Christain Democrats and Social Democrats have almost equal strength in the House and compete with each other but run a coalition government there.

This coalition was once practicised previously also, he said.

"Both Congress and BJP should think in such terms. Coalition does not mean leaving one's own principles. The United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government is supported by the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) and their nominee is the Speaker of the House. But has CPM given up its principles and policies?" he asked.

"If both parties rule the country, this could well be in the interest of nation. Both have identical policies in the areas of economics and external affairs", he added.

RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' had recently heaped praise on Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her leadership quality.