UPA’s 100-day report card

Hundred days is a small moment in the life of a government. It is perhaps no surprise that celebrations are muted as UPA 2 cruises past this

UPA has made steady progress at the start of its second innings by taking some crucial steps. But it has plenty of problems to deal with milestone. The decision to keep matters low-key seems to have been wilful as the polity looks to take have quietly of how its second innings in office is progressing.

Some hype about the first 100 days was inevitable since President Pratibha Patil spoke of this target in her come to Parliament. The speech was careful in stating that the polity would move to initiate certain measures rather than environment out objectives to be achieved. Yet, the phrase was catchy and it stuck — though officials clarified there really was no such 100-day document.

There was also a sense of enhanced expectation as UPA had returned to power with a solid majority powered by 206 Congress MPs in Lok Sabha. It was felt that with the Left and allies like PMK, SP and RJD out of the frame, it might be doable to expect a more purposeful and action-oriented government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be able to bring forth his real agenda, not one hamstrung by capricious allies.

The picture, however, is mixed. There is a welcome sense of progress in ministries like rural development and HRD, now under control of men handpicked by the Congress leadership. The stalled roads and highways programme is showing signs of picking pace. And finance is in the capable hands of Pranab Mukherjee patch P Chidambaram brings his energy to bear on home affairs. a

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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 29th, 2009 and is filed under Miscellaneous. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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