PM’s good, but govt’s not, says CPM

NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh was doing a good job as prime minister, but his government’s performance was “disappointing and worrying”, said CPM leader Sitaram Yechury here.

“Considering the fact that the Congress does not have the culture of leading a coalition, I think Manmohan Singh is doing a good job. He is doing a fairly competent job as Prime Minister as he is leading a collective Cabinet,” Mr Yechury said.

“But the government’s performance, especially its economic policies, have been disappointing and worrying,” said the politburo member of CPM, which extends crucial outside support to Manmohan Singh’s government.

Mr Yechury, known as the architect of the Left’s economic agenda, also fears that the “dangers of the government would rub off” on the Left. “Dangers of the present situation are that the general discontent over the government’s performance may rub off on us also.” However, the CPM MP is upbeat.

“People are perceiving that whatever good happening in this government is happening because of us. After all, the same Manmohan Singh was the one who started the privatisation process in the country (during his tenure as finance minister in 1991-96). And today, he is keeping it on hold.

“Obviously, there is a change of heart. There are programmes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee (the scheme to provide 100 days of work for one able-bodied person in rural families). It is the only government that has brought down the price of petrol.” He said people would also see us as responsible for something good. The CPM leader, however, added that the Left still prefers an anti-Congress, non-BJP alternative.

“The CPM always wanted a third alternative. It has to be built from the ground with those who are ready to work with us against negative impacts of economic policies and communalism. But it will take time. In the absence of that, we would always prefer an anti-Congress, non-BJP alternative if it can be built up before the next elections. The priority would be to keep communal forces out,” he said, adding that one cannot forget that 54 of the 61 Left MPs in the Lok Sabha had defeated Congress candidates.

The CPM-led Left Front is in direct fight with the Congress in party-ruled states West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Mr Yehcury, however, ruled out a third front. “We were always against a front, particularly after the UF experience. A front is essentially a cut and paste job. Neither is it durable, nor is it credible for shifting the policy directions in the country,” he said.