The uPA government did not face any major problem during the 100 days but there are several thorns in the bed of roses. The opposition does not seem to be creating big obstacles but definitely is doing enough to keep the government somewhat restless. However, the unity and cohesion among the uPA partners is of paramount importance for the government to last long and deliver the goods.***

INDEED, many eyes were fixed on the performance of a new Indian government, which took the reigns from principal political rivals, who were at the helm for nearly seven years. The interests were mainly for three reasons. First, the new united progressive alliance(UPA) government won the last general elections rather unexpectedly dislodging favourite ruling national democratic alliance(NDA) and expectations are high from the new coalition. Second, the victory for the UPA was not absolute in the sense that it could not muster enough majority for forming a government of its own and had to depend on the outside support of the like minded parties and hence the stability of the new government remains a matter of speculation. Thirdly and importantly, whether the UPA will be able to reconcile differences within its ranks on one hand and adjust for long on the other with the leftists whose support from outside is so critical for the alliance its very survival hinges on the attitude of the left parties which do not see eye to eye on many matters with the Congress-led UPA authority. These three main aspects of India's current political scenario make the conditions worth watching for the analysts and the first 100 days for the coalition in power sends mixed signals about the performance of the new government as far as the issues related to both domestic and foreign policy matters are concerned.

The government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh did not have a comfortable period during the first 100 days normally seen for a new set up in a democracy particularly in the Westminster system even though there was no serious threat from the opposition which is quite sizeable considering its strength in both houses of the parliament. The opposition NDA, shocked and somewhat stunned by the reversal in the polls, is still smarting under soul search and seeking to find scapegoats for the defeat some who managed to keep antigovernment pot boiling both in and outside the parliament.

The government has been embarrassed by the opposition demand of removal of the "tainted ministers" and finally, it came as a big blow when Shibu Soren, a cabinet minister from the JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), a component of the UPA, had to quit facing warrant of arrest over an old criminal case. But opposition's main target is railway minister and heavyweight Laloo Prasad Yadav and also some others, who are "tainted" by criminal cases. The UPA is refusing to ask these ministers to quit as their matter is different from Shibu Soren but there has been no let up in the opposition demand. The parliament witnessed noisy scenes on this issue and the NDA is trying to press further after its own chief minister of the Madhya Pradesh state Ms. Uma Bharati, a fire-band BJP leader, relinquished her position following a non-bailable warrant from a Karnataka court for a communally sensitive case.

The opposition asks if she can quit, why the "tainted" ministers in the central government cannot? But the government says the "tainted ministers" in question are not morally bound to resign as their situation is qualitatively different but this issue continues to confront . the government as a major political weapon. The uPA is unlikely to ask particularly Laloo Prasad Yadav to quit as his stature is high and his Rastriya Janata Dal in Bihar is a strong force in the ruling alliance probably only after the Congress. The government also faces opposition onslaught on price hike of the energy related products, decision of the profits of provided funds and some other issues directly affecting people at large. However, there was not much commotion on the price hike of the petrol and other products which the new government did soon after coming to power as it said decision in principle was taken by the previous government since the rise was unavoidable.

In the political front, the opposition is still reeling under the setbacks inflicted by Congress president and uPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who rejected the prime ministership when this position of most powerful person in world's largest democracy was just on the platter. This unique gesture emboldened the image of the Congress and its allies even before the new government took over and gave it a huge advantage that the opponents find difficult to match in any form. Sonia in this respect eclipsed even the main figure of the BJP, and for that matter the entire NDA, charismatic Atal Bihari Vajpayee, prime minister for three times. Congress asserts that V,Vajpayee could not resist his lust for power while Sonia has written a different story. But the opposition is not relenting as it seeks to give the impression that Dr. Singh, although a respected person, is the "Puppet PM" while Sonia is the "Super PM", meaning she wields real power. However, this accusation could not cut much ice since the Congress chief voluntarily distanced from official position while performing her expected political role. The new government is taking measures to benefit the rural economy, an area believed to have been ignored by the previous NDA government which cost it heavily in the elections.

On foreign policy matters, a comment by the external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh, an experienced diplomat-turned politician, that India might send troops to Iraq while he was in Washington came in for criticism not only by the opposition but also by some alliance partners. The apparent faux pas was sharply amended. The handling of the crisis stemming from some

Indians taken hostages by Iraqi insurgents was not also free from criticism. However, this government seems more keen compared to the NDA in improving ties with the neighbours. Talks at different levels are continuing with Pakistan. Arguably, the previous government initiated the dialogue with Pakistan during the last days of its rule but most part of NDA rule was marked by unfavourable ties and even belligerent postures from both sides. Mr. Natwar Singh received his counterparts from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in New Delhi and paid a visit to Nepal. The Indian people seem to favour good relations with the neighbours and the new government appears to be mindful if this factor.

The influence of the leftists, who favour a congenial political environment in the South Asia and are eager to see that more money is spent for welfare-oriented programmes, is casting a sobering effect in this direction. However, the uPA-leftist understanding is not fully trouble free even though they came closer on the broad belief of secularism in a bid to keep the BJP, widely seen as communal, away from power. The political milieu particularly in the leftist stronghold West Bengal and Kerala, where the Congress and leftists are long time main political opponents, is often causing some strain in the understanding. However, the uPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and elder CPM leaders Hari Kishan Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu are keen to see that the broad understanding is not ruptured to an extent that the existence of the government is threatened.

Another positive factor for the ruling uPA is the continuing squabbles in some form within the main opposition BJP between the liberals and the hardliners which accentuated in the aftermath of polls debacle. This had come to the fore centering chief minister of BJP-ruled Gujarat state as former prime minister ,ajpayee had taken a position disapproving of Narendra Modi, a communal zealot, but powerful leader L.K.Advani and party president ,enkaiya Naidu were favouring Modi. The BJP later sought to put up a face of unity on the issue but the undercurrent of differences is palpable.

The uPA government did not face any major problem during the 100 days but there are several thorns in the bed of roses. The opposition does not seem to be creating big obstacles but definitely is doing enough to keep the government somewhat restless. However, the unity and cohesion among the uPA partners is of paramount importance for the government to last long and deliver the goods. The ties with the leftists, whose support is more than essential for the government for its survival, may come for severe test in the future and so far both have demonstrated acumen in maintaining the broad amity since both are willing to prevent the common political foes from gaining ascendancy.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.