Old friends, new friends

Many social activists who played a prominent role in shaping the programmes and policies of the UPA government in its initial years have now fallen out of favour with 10, Janpath. They are no longer being consulted as the Congress prepares itself for the next general elections. The party8217;s Manifesto Committee, headed by Pranab Mukherjee, has been seeking the views of a number of people, including representatives of FICCI and CII on industrial policy, R K Pachauri on climate change, M S Swaminathan on agriculture, Bindeshwar Pathak of the Sulabh International, representatives of NGOs, tribals, etc. But some prominent faces, consulted until not so long ago, like Jean Dreze, who championed the cause of NREGS, and Magsaysay awardee Aruna Roy, who was instrumental in the passage of the RTI Act, are not being sought these days. Once members of the powerful National Advisory Council, their association with the party as well as Sonia Gandhi has 8220;almost frozen8221;, say some Congress sources.