There is fresh worry for the Congress—the floating of a ginger group within the ruling UPA was announced today. Apart from the usual suspects—NCP, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and JMM—it has another entrant—the RJD of Laloo Prasad Yadav, the most steadfast friend of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, to its ranks.TRS chief and Labour Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has already held discussions with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Laloo and JMM leader Shibu Soren, announced here today their decision to float the group. Its avowed purpose: “Reviewing the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of UPA.”Rao told reporters that they would also discuss other relevant issues and give suggestions to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Gandhi, the UPA Chairperson. Claiming that there was no ‘‘conspiracy’’ in the move, Rao said, ‘‘We are doing this on a positive note.’’Laloo confirmed the move in Patna. He told the media: ‘‘We have to run the government for five years. We need to come together.How the programme (implying CMP) is implemented, what more needs to be done.we have to work on all these, besides ministry related matters.’’Trying to downplay the development, Congress general secretary Ambika Soni told reporters here that she did not wish to comment, as she was not sure of ‘‘what Mr Rao has said’’. She said leaders of several UPA constituents had informed Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Sonia, that they were not aware of any initiative to float such a group.The four parties have a total of 42 members with RJD alone accounting for 24 (22 from Bihar and two from Jharkhand). With the 60-strong Left Front subjecting Manmohan Singh to frequent shelling, and the 40-strong Samajwadi Party waiting to create trouble, the group is bad news for the Congress. Fortunately for the party, the DMK and its two offshoots, PMK and MDMK, have not joined the move, for that would have meant trouble.Sources said that each disgruntled party had its own grouse, apart from some common goals. The TRS was upset over a lack of movement on Telangana issue. Soren was unhappy for being on an indefinite wait for a Cabinet berth. NCP was worried over Congress consolidation following an influx of Narayan Rane’s followers from Shiv Sena, and Laloo has been marginalised after Bihar polls.These four UPA partners also want a role in appointment of Governors and nomination of members to Rajya Sabha, besides to government bodies.Though there is no threat to the government, this “trade union” activity within UPA is bound to make decision-making hazardous for the PM, already faced with occassional pin-pricks from the Left.
