UPA II: How Can It Perform?

UPA-1 was a real non-performer. Barring the nuclear deal they do not have much to show for. Even that deal happened because President Bush made it a major priority. Aside from the non-performance, hints of scams were always there. The 2G and the trillion dollars of Indian black money in off shore accounts were one of the two. There was inflation and suicide by farmers. There was terrorism (Islamic and Maoist). But the one thing that they had was a united front. They were united in their incompetence and corruption.
Thanks to regional parties (dividing votes), amnesic voters and a completely inept campaign by the BJP, UPA came back to power with larger number of seats. Imagine that!! One thought that with no Communists to impede, UPA-II would function better. However in slightly over a year, they have outdone themselves in all the negatives. Bigger scams, higher inflation, even more expensive food! Fortunately there has been only one terror attack. Maybe the Pakistanis are too tied up in terrorizing their own people that they have inadvertently given us a respite.
If recent reports are to be believed, the one thing that UPA-I had is missing this time i.e. unity. Apparently, Sonia and Rahul are having difficulty agreeing to the way the party should be run. This is not new. The coterie around them have repeated clashed in the past but since, the common goal of Rahul’s coronation has kept these differences under a boil. Not anymore. Rahul’s coterie led by Digvijay Singh wants to prevail. So the one reason why the Gandhi family was given the leadership role was because they could unite the party. That does not seem to be the case anymore. How is all this impacting the man in the PM’s seat? Understandably, not well! With so many problems facing our nation, the Congress is still struggling with an issue like cabinet reshuffle something, which will not benefit the nation at all!!
Moreover, there is another report which claims that Pranab Mukherjee has been offered the PM’s seat if he can dig the Congress out of the 2G hole.
Again, how can a government function with all these pressures, especially one that was not performing well to begin with? The next elections are in 2014. How can this government deliver till then? Indian voters are being punished but the punishment is not longer commensurate with the crime.
I hope that our luck changes and there are mid term elections. Otherwise, god save us all.

Differences in Cong top echelons tying PM's hands
The AICC reshuffle and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's [ Images ] desire to reshuffle his cabinet are inter-linked. Dr Singh has been waiting since long to get some new faces in the Cabinet. But the mother and son's team has not finalised the list for the reshuffle in the party, say sources. Sources say the government is fighting with its back to the wall on a number of crucial issues and so far the PM has been unsuccessful in resolving any of them.
The article can be read at: http://www.rediff.com/news/report/differences-in-cong-top-echelons-tying-pms-hands/20110112.htm

The turning worm
They say that Pranab Mukherjee is once again in the prime minister's race. He has been promised the top job if he can get the Congress leadership out of the 2G net. Given this development, it is perfectly understandable that Pranab Mukherjee should pounce on the PM for making the PAC offer.
The article can be read at: http://newsinsight.net/archivedebates/nat2.asp?recno=2089