Congress, Left views on key economic initiatives see growing convergence

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's controversial letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on FDI in retail sector underlined growing convergence of views between the Congress and the Left parties on a host of issues, notwithstanding the Congress party's oft-repeated commitment to economic reforms.

On the issue of price rise, it was the Left parties which sounded the bugle of alarm demanding a ban on futures trading in essential commodities.

The Congress followed suit with chief ministers from the party and the Congress Working Committee members meeting separately to echo the Left's demand.

It was the same on the question of increasing prices of petroleum products when the international crude oil prices had gone up. The Left had opposed any increase; the Congress followed them soon. After the crude oil prices came down, the Left demanded reduction in prices; the Congress was quick to ask the government to consider it.

Orissa Congress had similarly joined the Left-initiated opposition against disinvestment in NALCO. The Congress president had then given a patient hearing to a delegation of party leaders from Orissa led by AICC general secretary V Narayansami.

The delegation had come out triumphantly announcing Gandhi's support to their agitation.

Even before the DMK came out with a threat over disinvestment of shares in Neyveli Lignite Corporation stalling the entire disinvestment process, the Congress had conveyed its reservation to the PM, according to senior party leaders.

On the issue of Special Economic Zones, the Left parties had demanded from the UPA regime to adopt the West Bengal model in terms of compensation and rehabilitation, type of land (preferably barren or mono-crop) to be acquired, etc. Sonia Gandhi repeated the Left's line on SEZs almost ad verbatim at the conclave of Congress CMs in Nainital.

Queried about the convergence of views with the Left, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that there were a host of issues raised by the Left, which did not draw the Congress' attention.

"The ratio is 100:2. Out of 100 suggestions made by the Left, the Congress accepts just two. But the point is whether the issues are correct and in public interest? The previous NDA regime had come out with the FRBM Act; the UPA accepted it. Good things don't need partisan politics," he said.