Left Leaves Its Stamp, Reformers Kept At Bay

The lack of enthusiasm among the United Front constituents for a common manifesto was apparent yesterday with most frontline partners preferring to stay away from the release of the common programme document. The document, which was released by UF chairman H D Deve Gowda bore the stamp of the Left parties, while largely ignoring the views of the pro-reforms parties.

The document, titled Common Programme and Joint Policy Declaration, reads more like a listing of the steps taken by the UF government than a promise to the voter. It once again underscored the sharp divisions among the constituents on key issues like opening up the insurance sector to foreign companies.

 

The Left view dominates the document, with little space being devoted to pro-reform views of parties like the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), whose leader, Union finance minister P Chidambaram had little patience for the Lefts views in his bid to push through reforms.

Only aspects on which there is uniformity among the constituents have been included. Issues like opening the insurance sector have been left out due to existing differences, a senior Left leader said.

Top leaders of the TMC, DMK, Asom Gana Parishad, Telugu Desam and Samajwadi Party were conspicuous by their absence. Samajwadi Partys Amar Singh was present as a disinterested bystander. Those present included Left leaders H S Surjeet, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav.

Front sources said there were no volunteers willing to contribute to the document. Most kept away on the pretext that they were needed in their constituencies. Further, copies of the document were not ready, and only a few photocopies were available for distribution.

Gowda forecast that contrary to all projections, the United Front would return to power. He recalled that the coalition had remained united during the crisis precipitated by the Jain commission report. He did not agree that the conflict over seat-adjustments among the UF constituents amounted to disunity. Gowda, however, said the coalition was prepared to sit in the opposition in the event of a hung verdict, and ruled out taking support from the Congress or backing it.