Business of Its Own!

With the declaration of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee`s candidature for presidential election which is scheduled very soon, Congress party has made it clear that India`s oldest political party is capable enough to decide a political business of its own. They have refused to bother about the threats coalition partners. Mamata Banerjee and many other satrap and satrapess are in habit of thrusting their own ideas on leading partner in the government. Now the Congress has given the clear message: Behave or quite! During BJP led coalitions days, L K Advani was entrusted with the troubleshooting job. He flew to various places countless time to woo Mamata Bnerjee, Jaylalithaa and other leaders. Advani and his government had to surrender before the smaller parties. It became the joke of the day.

The regional parties, like Trunmul Congress and others, who joined earlier NDA governments devised a trick to blackmail the Big Brother in government. Mamata and Jaylalitha played their cards in such a manner that Prime Minister A B Bajpayee and his old time friend Advani had to face embarrassments. Similar tactics were employed against Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee by TMC. Mamata Banerjee was seeking waiver of the interest burden on West Bengal government. Although she claimed that she is not mix-up the issue with that of deciding the presidential candidate, nobody believed her. The DMK agreed to support Congress as it is already obsessed with scandals involving his party`s ministers. Moreover it was marginalized in last assembly elections.

Mamata made out a big issue out when her `minister nominee’ in charge railway ministry proposed fare hike while presenting railway budget. Mamata Banerjee immediately demanded removal of her ‘minister nominee’ This was great embarrassment for the railway minister, Mr. Trivedi himself and Manmohan Singh government too. This was clear violations of democratic norms. As a Big Brother Manmohan Singh could refuse to heed; however he didn`t. Many of UPA decisions were stalled by its smaller partners along with BJP the main opposition party. With this Manmohan Singh government had to face serious embarrassment. Not being a seasoned politician he publicly admitted government`s inability to push through certain decisions because of political compulsions. Standard & Poor’s have made the specific reference to India`s political weakness when it warned downgrade rating. Other industry leaders took cue from the credit rating agency and began openly criticizing Manmohan Singh`s leadership. All these are implications dam serious to stop country`s investment flow. Had Mamata`s move succeeded, added fuel to fire. The corporate India`s is already suffering damage, process was which began when Pranab Mukherjee in his budget speech announced the GAAR provisions to prevent tax avoidance.

When presidential election issue came up Jaylalitha and Nabin Patnayak met and without bothering what the BJP the big brother has on mind, announced Sangama`s candidature. Nobody knows at whose instance both the leaders, Nabin Patnayak and Jaylalithaa met and deliberated the issue which was supposed to be top on political agenda of the country. This time BJP failed to seize the lead in naming the candidate for supreme office of India. It either misjudged the situation or used low type delaying tactics. The Congress proved it had upper hand in deciding the presidential candidate. Off cores, Congress party chose very modest approach to whole issue and succeeded in changing the situation in its favor. This saga , if continues, may help Manmohan Singh government to show its capabilities once again to push through much needed reform.



–Ramesh Zawar

Former News Editor, Loksatta