An Initial hiccup--the early signs for Congress

Verdict 27/02/06: Congress concedes two more states to its oppsostion, the BJP...Well honestly speaking this was the writing on the wall much before the counting of the seats actually started in these two states.Analysing on a case to case basis, as for Punjab a leader (read Capt. Amarinder Singh) who appears to be arrogant, remains inaccessible to the state, favors people of his liking and many more. And for Uttarakhand, which is more of a strategic importance, bearing in mind that it serves as a sample space for the big boy UP, Congress could ill afford this defeat but lack of strong leadership in the former CM N D Tiwari did them the damage. Well one must be wondering is inaccessibility and leadership such big bargains that can even end up losing an election. It can’t be blamed on just these factors but a combination of other factors which includes the Congress policies. Lack of clarity regarding the road map towards the retail sector, which would have actually benefited Punjab, due to excessive intervention by 10, Janapath and everybody is ready to buy that argument (even if it seems out of context of the whole matter). Inability to control inflation as it fails to realize that this time around it is the supply side constraint that is the culprit. We have seen the output of wheat production from Punjab stagnating, in fact declining over the last few years and no concrete steps to address this problem. When Mr. Vajpayee makes an opening statement of the likes of “kab tak paani wali dal pi sakte ho”in a state like Punjab, which was not too long ago an agricultural hub of the country the intensity of the problem can very well be gauged. The ground water levels have been falling in the state and no stringent measures to compensate for this problem. An average GDP growth of 8.5% for the past 4 years is surely an achievement but the Congress needs to understand the fact that aam aadmi is more concerned with his grocery bill for the month. Power resting with different people and lack of complete control given to the FM on the economy front are also few reasons which sum up the entire scenario for the Congress. The Congress needs to take some substantive measures and choose between whether it wants to give total autonomy to the FM or take complete control in the party’s hands. The current scenario is neither helping the party’s cause nor doing the inflation thing any good. on the other hand the Left party has been of the poster boy of all the opposition directed towards the Congress. We have labeled the BJP as a non existent opposition but the left has taken the onus from them to be an ally from the opposition.Thus, the Congress in the power at the centre is probably an unhappy marriage, where both the partners are just clinging to each other until either of them finds a new spouse for himself/herself. Look out Mrs.Gandhi, BJP is gaining more than a few brownie points before the GE 2009.