Retributions  

The next general elections will decide Left’s place in Indian polity

The Left has finally withdrawn its support to the UPA government. As Saubhik Chakrabarti had suggested in a recent op-ed, the Left simply failed to the understand the rules of the political market. End Result: The government is likely to last its full term. And push the nuclear deal forward. Prakash Karat’s obduracy has cost the Left the remote control over a government it has substantially shaped in the last four years.

Now it is over to the Indian voter. If the Left goes unpunished for its act of political brinkmanship, Prakash Karat and his fellow hardliners would emerge stronger. If, however, as the recent reports suggest, the Left suffers substantial losses in West Bengal and Kerala, its days in political wilderness may be extended. Perhaps, indefinitely.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserves praise for finally standing up to Left’s bullying, the government has the unique opportunity of wiping out Left’s pernicious influence on the policy making process. In the last four years, liberalization have suffered as the Left has forced the government to shelve almost all second generation reforms: From pension bill to PSU divestment. The government can utilize its remaining months in power to push the reform agenda forward. The high inflation and the subsequent economic downturn offers the government a ready made cover.

Manmohan Singh has won this round. Dr Singh had suggested that his government is not a ”one issue government.” It is time to walk the talk. And if in the process, Prakash Karat ends up with a little more mud on his face–surely, the prime minister wouldn’t mind.

p.s And time for a little gloating…