Paralysis of Leadership ; the Prime Minister's Hesitation to Confront and Assert has Derailed Reforms and Affected Governance As Both Allies and Congress Leaders Hold the Government to Ransom
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Summary
PV. Narasimha Rao, the last Machiavelli of the Congress, had a theory that a crisis can be resolved by another crisis to consolidate control. In a sense Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has had a fair share of opportunity. Why just last week he barely emerged from the theatre of rumours of his resignation to be faced with the dastardly act of the serial blasts in Mumbai. Nobody quite expects articulation of a "hot pursuit thesis" or rhetoric of the Bush variety, malapropism et al from Manmohan. Tuesday presented an opportunity to rise above the din of a fractious coalition and assume the station he presides over. Sure his hands are tied given the overwhelming influence of vote bank politics. The Left had cornered him on the Iran vote, while his own party had passed a resolution in Kerala Assembly for the release of Abdul Nasser Madani, the mastermind in the Coimbatore blasts. But India expected its prime minister to convey anger and anguish. Manmohan, however, chose to deliver a tame "commitment to fight terror" missive, while Home Minister Shivraj Patil confounded expectations with a pusillanimous "confront it with fortitude" advice.
Perhaps the hesitation to confront and assert stems from his acute awareness of his position. He is but an appointed prime minister, almost the CEO appointed by the largest shareholder and the second choice of the "inner voice". The BJP's charge of calling him the "weakest prime minister" may sound like sloganeering but Manmohan has far too often conveyed the picture of a cornered, helpless ruler. Yes, he has compulsions and this is a 19-party coalition. Indeed in June 2004 India Today listed out these very issues when he took charge in a cover story "What can he do?" Sure there are bound to be situations where there is give and take or a rollback but not outright surrender. Last week the DMK threatened to pull out its ministers unless the proposal to disinvest in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) was put off. The prime minister was aghast and apparently asked the emissaries Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Environment Minister A. Raja, "What will people think of me?" But it is not just his halo but the Government's economics that is under threat.See the full content of this document
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Paralysis of Leadership ; the Prime Minister's Hesitation to Confront and Assert has Derailed Reforms and Affected Governance As Both Allies and Congress Leaders Hold the Government to Ransom
Fact is both the DMK and the Left parties were clearly reneging on an agreement. On November 21, 2005, the Left had agreed to consider disinvestment subject to government stake not dropping below 76 per cent in eight select profit making PSUs. The money was to be parked in the National Investment Fund (NIF) which was notified on November 23. Indeed, subsequently the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the sale of equity in PFC and NMDC without any protest fr...
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