Gift from Natwar

It was surely not Natwar Singh8217;s intention. But he has helped the Congress. His serial invectives against the prime minister has engendered a slew of supportive statements for Manmohan Singh from the party. Look back only a few weeks 8212; during the Narmada controversy, during the so-called inflation crisis, during the brief period farmers8217; suicides occupied mind space in Delhi, during the disinvestment debate 8212; and the difference becomes clear. Then, senior Congress leaders, including some ministers, were happy to trash the government they essentially meant the prime minister on 8216;vote losing8217; policies. And they were undoubtedly encouraged by the lack of clear, public statements of support from 10 Janpath. Sonia Gandhi may not have agreed with some of her senior colleagues, she may not have wanted the prime minister to be made to look vulnerable to cabinet ministerial intrigue, but her silence was interpreted as eloquent by those talking up the government-party divide.

Now that Sonia Gandhi has backed the prime minister, and that too at an election preparation rally in UP 8212; the heart of the aam aadmi8217; country 8212; and now that inevitably other Congress leaders have followed suit, the party president and her senior colleagues should ensure that this moment of sensible politics survives Natwar Singh fading away from the headlines. That means the Congress will need to realise that the prime minister deserves support even when he8217;s not being attacked personally. Such a realisation would be easier were senior Congress leaders to consider the following.

First, no party that attacks its own government gets brownie points from voters. Second, since the economy can8217;t grow healthily without reforms and since a weakening of growth impulses won8217;t fetch the Congress extra votes, Manmohan Singh8217;s policies are negotiable in only one way 8212; initiating more reforms. Third, the Congress8217;s biggest problems have nothing to do with Manmohan Singh8217;s policies. In UP and Bihar, the party is in a so far fruitless search for inspiration. In Gujarat, Narendra Modi is more worried about BJP dissidents. In MP, the BJP8217;s troubles haven8217;t meant gains for the Congress. In Punjab, the Akalis seem ready to bounce back. Manmohan Singh, arguably, can8217;t help the party in these cases. But neither can the senior Congressmen, backroom operators all, who gripe about him.