Gowda Opens Direct Channel With Surjeet, Steering Committee Loses

As most UF partners are represented in the Union Cabinet, except the CPI-M, Gowda is now directly consulting CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet on crucial economic and political issues, a senior UF leader said. That has gone a long way to curb the carping among front partners.

After allowing it to evolve the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), Gowda did not let the steering committee to interfere in the government's decision-making or day-to-day functioning, inspite of the initial murmurs from the Left.

The last time it met was to discuss the conflict on the Almatti dam issue between two UF partner-run States - Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. On that issue, Gowda specifically wanted to distance himself from the problem as much as possible, since he was being accused by Andhra of being partisan.

Asked if this means a slow death for the steering committee, a senior UF leader said the relevance of the steering committee had not diminished. Only the committee would not meet as often as it had been in the past.

For example, it is only the steering committee that can make any amendment to the CMP in case there was a need. The steering committee would also be the right body to resolve intra-Front differences, like in the case of Almatti, he said.

However, Gowda decided to impose President's rule in Gujarat - an issue that could have caused major rumblings within the front - without referring it to the steering committee. He had consulted senior party leaders such as Surjeet, however, with the result that the decision was welcomed by most constituents.

Despite occasional complaints from the CPI leader and home minister Indrajit Gupta of not having been consulted, Gupta is also said to be adjusting to the realities of running a government. The latest example is the industry ministry's proposal on liberalising the list of industries where automatic approval for foreign direct investment should be allowed. Gupta is reported to have largely, though reluctantly