Non-Left pressure group within UPA Govt

     New Delhi: Ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle, there is news of a fresh pressure group formed by non-left parties within the ruling coalition United Progressive Alliance (UPA). This pressure group will be in addition to the left parties who are giving outside support to the Government. Within the UPA, two constituents Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) have announced the formation of an informal group within to 'review' the implementation of the coalition's Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief Chandrashekhar Rao was categorical of the need to have a separate group.

    TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao, who had meetings with the leaders of UPA allies including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren and RJD chief Lalu Prasad recently, told newpersons that the 'non-Congress, non-Left' parties would like to deliberate on the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme and other relevant issues and give suggestions to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Labour Minister Rao's comments were echoed in Patna by Lalu Prasad, who said that the Government has to run for five years and there was need for parties to come together for a review on the CMP. Rao, who has a grouse over not achieving his separate Telangana state, said "Twenty months have passed since UPA came to power. We have made promises in the CMP. We would like to review the implementation of the Programme and give our suggestions to the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi." Denying that the parties are forming a 'pressure group', Rao said the aim is to strengthen UPA so that the alliance can complete its five-year term smoothly. Rao said, "There is no politics and conspiracy in this. We all want the government to continue in power for five years and do well. We are doing this on a positive note."

     The meeting of the coming up group is likely to take place in January. It would also review how 'coalition dharma' was followed in the last 20 months, Rao said. He, however, did not give either the number or names of the parties that would be part of the exercise. Citing the instance of the failure in Bihar poll due to 'lack of coordination', Rao said that the UPA-Left coordination committee was a mechanism only for the Left parties, there was a greater need for coordination among partners of the coalition. Moreover, the meeting would also discuss the political developments like cash-for-query scam and subsequent expulsion of MPs and other relevant issues. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Ambika Soni refused to comment on the development to the newspersons. "I don't want to make any comment on this as there is no confirmation of what Rao had said. There is no truth in that, there is no need to give credence to rumours," she said. She said that there was a coordination committee of UPA allies as they have been meeting Congress President, Sonia Gandhi or even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss their grievances. She said TRS came into existence on the Telengana issue and whenever he (Rao) felt that the issue has not been taken seriously, he raises the matter. Soni said Gandhi had appointed a committee headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the issue of creating smaller states, including Telengana and whenever there was a consensus on the issue it would be taken up.