Some UNITED Front leaders say that Finance Minister P Chidambaram should not worry about cosmetic criticism from the Left parties on the process of economic reforms.
They hold that the Left parties are concerned about maintaining the public credibility of their policy positions but would not bring down the government over most of them.
Senior UF leaders say that many important decisions which should have been taken have been unnecessarily put off because of pressure from the Left parties. This has sent a wrong signal among investors and the people at large.
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One UF leader said, tongue in cheek, that Left leaders talked about economic self-reliance when the country had heavily borrowed from the IMF and World Bank. Since, we have taken money from them, they will definitely try to influence our policies. What is wrong in it?, he asked.
However, they also admit that there is likely to be some element of populism in the forthcoming general budget, as the finance minister will have to accomodate views of all UF constituents. And there is an in-built instability in the government, he added.
However, they agree with the Left parties in opposing the proposed hike of petroleum products. Another UF leader said that the government of India is the biggest consumer of petroleum products and if the government rationalises consumption, imports of petroleum products will automically go down, and the oil pool deficit account will decrease.
One senior UF leader admittted there is great confusion on economic policies among the UF constituents but added that things were no different in the Congress and the BJP.
The difference, some UF leaders say, is that the Left leaders seem to have a psychological need to go to the press to oppose each and every economic decision. Even after they discuss the matter in the UF steering committee meetings, they feel an urge to go to the press on issues which are settled there, complained one.
He added that most of the constituents monitor the functioning of the government on a day to day basis but it was not proper to air ones opinions constantly.
The impression that the United Front is not a cohesive force partly stems from the Lefts constant criticisms, he added.