. For the ruling Congress Party the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh could not have come at a worse time
March 12, 2007 (Press Release) --
New Delhi, 12th March, 2007. For the ruling Congress Party the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh could not have come at a worse time. Badly bruised by the avoidable defeat in Punjab and Uttranchal, harassed by high inflation, saddled with an organization in utter disarray, deteriorating relations with its most important coalition partner � the Left � and faced with alienation of the urban, particularly young voters, the party finds itself in a very vulnerable state. It has none but itself to blame for its present predicament and unless it indulges in sincere introspection and takes corrective measures to refurbish its image, it may have to pay dearly in the next Parliamentary election. Buoyed by its victory in Punjab and Uttaranchal and, possibly, in Delhi also, its main rival, the BJP now sees a good prospect for itself, having overcome the trauma of voters' rejection in the last election.
The last two-and-a-half years have shown that the United Progressive Alliance is more disunited than united in solving national problems. The rift with the Left parties, which is wide open for reasons already well known, has affected its credibility. Most of the economic reforms measures have been put on hold, complaining that there is no prior consultation with it, nor are decisions taken collectively, the Left are already on the warpath. It is only when it threatened a "political breach" with the Congress that "Operation Mulayam" was halted in Uttar Pradesh and President's rule not imposed. True, the tangible cost � loss of Left goodwill and consequences of any public confrontation with the Head of State � would far outweigh any gains the Congress hoped for in UP.
Though the Congress has always yielded to Left parties' pressure, it will be too much for it to expect that its gesture will be reciprocated by their being more responsive to the Government's economic agenda. Having survived on an ideology of negativism, deprivation and continued impoverishment of the people in the states now ruled by it, the Left has no intention of giving up its "revolutionary" fervour. It cannot align with the BJP, or communal forces, but it does not find itself comfortable in the company of the Congress party either which has the largest political organization in the country, thus posing a threat to all other parties. There are indications that the Congress will increasingly feel the heat from the Left parties, now joined by the Samajwadi Party also, in Parliament in future.
The voters in Punjab and Uttranchal were not impressed by the economic jargon used by the Finance Minister to explain the rising prices of essential commodities. The Prime Minister also finds it hard to explain to the people that inflation is a sign of a strong and rapidly growing economy, which the Government intends to tackle. But the Central Budget for 2007-2008 gave no indication of a strategy to hold the price line and ensure economic growth with justice and equity.
New Delhi, 12th March, 2007. For the ruling Congress Party the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh could not have come at a worse time. Badly bruised by the avoidable defeat in Punjab and Uttranchal, harassed by high inflation, saddled with an organization in utter disarray, deteriorating relations with its most important coalition partner � the Left � and faced with alienation of the urban, particularly young voters, the party finds itself in a very vulnerable state. It has none but itself to blame for its present predicament and unless it indulges in sincere introspection and takes corrective measures to refurbish its image, it may have to pay dearly in the next Parliamentary election. Buoyed by its victory in Punjab and Uttaranchal and, possibly, in Delhi also, its main rival, the BJP now sees a good prospect for itself, having overcome the trauma of voters' rejection in the last election.
The last two-and-a-half years have shown that the United Progressive Alliance is more disunited than united in solving national problems. The rift with the Left parties, which is wide open for reasons already well known, has affected its credibility. Most of the economic reforms measures have been put on hold, complaining that there is no prior consultation with it, nor are decisions taken collectively, the Left are already on the warpath. It is only when it threatened a "political breach" with the Congress that "Operation Mulayam" was halted in Uttar Pradesh and President's rule not imposed. True, the tangible cost � loss of Left goodwill and consequences of any public confrontation with the Head of State � would far outweigh any gains the Congress hoped for in UP.
Though the Congress has always yielded to Left parties' pressure, it will be too much for it to expect that its gesture will be reciprocated by their being more responsive to the Government's economic agenda. Having survived on an ideology of negativism, deprivation and continued impoverishment of the people in the states now ruled by it, the Left has no intention of giving up its "revolutionary" fervour. It cannot align with the BJP, or communal forces, but it does not find itself comfortable in the company of the Congress party either which has the largest political organization in the country, thus posing a threat to all other parties. There are indications that the Congress will increasingly feel the heat from the Left parties, now joined by the Samajwadi Party also, in Parliament in future.
The voters in Punjab and Uttranchal were not impressed by the economic jargon used by the Finance Minister to explain the rising prices of essential commodities. The Prime Minister also finds it hard to explain to the people that inflation is a sign of a strong and rapidly growing economy, which the Government intends to tackle. But the Central Budget for 2007-2008 gave no indication of a strategy to hold the price line and ensure economic growth with justice and equity.
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