Congress tides over difficult year

It has been another roller coaster year in 2012 for the Congress heading the UPA government with a major ally Trinamool Congress quitting the central coalition and equally important key outside supporters Samajwadi Party and BSP showing unease.

But for all their unease, the two parties from Uttar Pradesh have come to the aid of the government in Parliament where and when it matters most-- willing to strike, but afraid to wound.

On top of it, things also appear to be looking up for the Congress with government in a position to shed its image of policy paralysis and taking some hard decisions on the reforms front.

The possible emergence of Modi as BJP's prime ministerial candidate to be pitted against Rahul Gandhi in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2014 is said to be viewed by Congress as both a challenge and an opportunity.

A section in the Congress believes that Modi could be a polarising figure and unite the Muslims behind the party in a national election. But there is an equal concern that BJP, which suffers from leadership squabbles, could remain united behind Modi and present a tough challenge.

The upcoming year could witness a host of regional parties posing another challenge through a proposed Federal Front with a view to bring together non-Congress, non-BJP parties.

Amid talk that Parliament polls could be a Rahul vs Modi tussle, the Congress has to get its act together as during the year gone by it has been beset with problems and battered by one controversy after another.(MORE)