As UPA-2 completes one year in power, the country is slowly but steadily moving towards economic and political stability. However, in its first innings, the Maoists have emerged as the biggest challenge to the nation’s internal security. Also, in times of coalition politics, the government is trying to balance unpredictable allies like the Trinamul Congress and the controversial deals of DMK and NCP ministers in the Union Cabinet.
There are five stages of a government. The first year is for unveiling the roadmap, the second year for delivery, the third for consolidation, the fourth for concessions and the final year for elections.
As UPA-2 completes its first year, the government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has unfurled the roadmap. With the Left out of its way, reforms education, the economy and judiciary have been set in motion. On the global stage, despite hiccups, the Prime Minister has moved ahead with his peace process on Pakistan without compromising the country’s position. The PM’s visit to China in January was regarded a landmark. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Dr Singh signed a document to “promote the building of a harmonious world”. As the two nations smoked the peace pipe, India remained firm on the border issues. While returning from the BRIC summit in Brasilia, the PM said: “Unlike China’s rise, which possibly gives rise to apprehensions, the world takes a benign view of India’s growth. We should take advantage because we do not know how long it will last.” In the first year, the Prime Minister has been consistently driving the nation to the high table of global economic power. Even as the world reeled under the economic slowdown, India managed to withstand the brunt. On the sidelines of the recently held nuclear summit in Washington, the Prime Minister, during his meeting with US President Barack Obama, not only raised the issue of terrorism but pushed for India’s access to 26/11 plotter David Coleman Headley.
On the domestic front, the first year of UPA-2 saw the passage of the historic Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi virtually rode roughshod over dissenting voices, even within the party, and pushed through the legislation in the Upper House. It was a historic moment for India. Even the arch political rivals of the Congress, ranging from Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj to CPI(M) MP and politburo member Brinda Karat, came out in open support of the legislation amidst stiff opposition from supporting parties and allies like the Trinamul Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. Standing by the PM’s side, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, a man for all seasons, not only steered the country through the global financial crisis but his deft handling of the allies and supporting parties saw the government emerging triumphant during the crucial vote on the cut motions. With the Pranab magic working, the LS witnessed the decimation of the BJP and the Left parties in the House.
Despite moving forward, the government in it’ first year continued to get hit following the compulsions of coalition politics.
The government came under Opposition fire over the functioning of its allies. Telecommunications minister A. Raja of the DMK being accused of contentious spectrum deals has become a cause of concern for UPA-2I. Similarly, the unpredictable Trinamul supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee, has emerged neo-Left in the UPA. She has not merely been opposing the government’s disinvestment policy but took the UPA by surprise when she made a U-turn and went against the women’s bill.
The UPA is also being questioned for Ms Banerjee’s (also railway minister) long absence from Delhi. A defiant Ms Banerjee, who is eyeing the Bengal chief minister’s post. continues to run her ministry from Delhi. The government is also forced to ignore NCP chief and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s love for cricket as the country reels under rising prices. Like Ms Banerjee, another chronic absentee from Parliament is the DMK’s Alagiri. While the UPA is apparently allowing the allies to take advantage of coalition politics, it has come down heavily on its own ministers for transgressing norms or misusing office. Minister of state Mr Shashi Tharoor was promptly dropped as his name cropped up in the recent IPL controversy while minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh was given a sharp wrap on that knuckles for overstepping his brief and going on to describe the home ministry as “alarmist and paranoid” in its policy towards China. However, on the internal security, the PM’s apprehension that Maoists would emerge as the country’s “biggest thre-at” is turning into reality. Within a month the Maoists have killed 125 people in Chhattisgarh. With the home minister desperately running to offer explanations, the failure to contain Naxal violence remains the Centre’s worst nightmare. The government is also hit by his sudden decision to split Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana.
However, the first year is never enough to pass a verdict on the performance of any government. During the 2009 elections, the Congress, led by PM, routed the BJP and virtually ended the political career of saffron giant L.K. Advani.
If the Prakash Karat-led CPI(M) continues to pay the price for snapping ties with UPA-I and could possibly witness the setting of a red sun over Bengal, the saffron camp is desperately seeking an answer to the Congress’ lethal combination of Dr Manmohan Singh, Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi.