Make the vision visible

Congress should also realise that it takes two to three years for any reform or project to yield results. If it does not act now, it actions will yield it no political advantage. This is the time, for instance, to take the tough decision needed for sustainable economic reform at every level 8212; from taxation reform to liberalising sectors that have been hitherto impervious to change. It would be difficult to take the required tough decisions later in the life of a government with elections looming again on the horizon. In order to act decisively, the prime minister needs a strategy with three components. The first is to create a mechanism to ensure that recalcitrant ministries actually perform. A number of key ministries are still in intellectual and administrative stupor and they need to be energised. The PM will be judged not only by his actions but by his ability to make his government act. Second, he will have to come up with a political strategy to ensure that his UPA allies share his vision despite the strains that occasionally surface. This will require more nuanced politics. Third, the Congress should display the determination not to let this agenda be overshadowed by trivial political goals. Too often, the momentum of governance is lost, simply because the government is too distracted by peripheral political issues. The good is thus obscured by the petty.

The prime minister has made much of the theme of administrative reforms. He had recognised that the fate of all government policy hinges on reforming government itself: making it more responsive, transparent, efficient and accountable. This was his most significant promise to the nation and his actions will be measured by how much gets translated into reality. But reforming government will require a unity of purpose, and an ability to inspire where required and to instill fear when necessary.