As left as the Left?

Some of the most vocal opposition to the cap on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders has come from within the government. Food and Civil Supplies Minister K V Thomas, in particular, has written to the prime minister seeking a review on the cap, as it would hurt the Congress electorally. It “will not go well” with voters, especially the middle class, he said. Mr Thomas’ opposition, caused one senior Congress Cabinet minister to apparently ask what it was about Congressmen from Kerala that made them as left as the Left – referring also to Defence Minister A K Antony’s well-documented concerns about free trade arrangements and foreign investments. Mr Antony has spoken out in Cabinet about the former, and held up foreign direct investment into the defence sector after it was cleared by the commerce ministry.

In response to the Cabinet minister’s complaint, one of his colleagues pointed out that, at least, the Congress in Kerala hadn’t yet become like the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal – more left than the Left.