Coalition comes to rule at states too

The UPA is now entering Phase II of its relationship with the Left and the regional allies—which means a lot more give and take.

The DMK could have become more assertive, but for the fact that the arithmetic configuration in Tamil Nadu makes it dependent on the Congress. The Tamil Nadu result has made it virtually impossible for an alternative government to be formed in the 14th Lok Sabha. The BJP and some regional parties had tried a couple of times to see if an alternative coalition could be forged, but it was contingent on the DMK switching sides.

So the poll results will lend political stability to the UPA government on the one hand, while on the other, Left’s victory in West Bengal and Kerala will bring the Prime Minister under greater pressure.

Even before all the results had come in, the Left leaders started talking tough. CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the Left would keep the government under pressure. CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said the verdict in West Bengal and Kerala showed the people were against the government’s economic policies. ‘‘We would like to keep the government in power,’’ he said, ‘‘but we will also fight the battle for the change that the people now want. If Manmohan Singh does not heed us, unko bhi badal denge (we will change him).’’

Congress leaders admit they have to engage the Left afresh on pension reforms and FDI in the retail sector, which are two issues on which the PM wants to move forward. Capital account convertability is already put on the backburner. Labour reforms are also not on the anvil, say Congress sources.

Said a Congress leader, ‘‘We shall see in July, there can be give and take with the Left, all of which is workable. In fact, Sonia Gandhi upstaged the Left by writing to the PM opposing the FTA with Asean to safeguard the interests of the farmers.’’

–neerja.chowdhuryexpressindia.com