NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister has made it clear that there will be ‘no going back’ in the liberalization process of the Indian economy, specifically, he will resist any recourse to populist policies “that would harm the national economy.”
In conversation with The Times of India, he acknowledged that populist policies could result in short term political gains. But, he said, such gains would be at the expense of long term growth prospects. He would rather do without populism “‘at that cost.” “In his view, the populist trend seen in recent assembly elections, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Kamataka, may not be a reliable indicator of likely results in a parliamentary election. In a national poll, “the odds are good” that the voters would tum away from the sectarian alterative offered by the BJP and the unstable coalition Represented by the Janata Declinational Front alliance, and return to the Congress Party, “provided the Party shows that it can nun a clean and efficient administration,” he said. This could be a signal that further purges of individuals under cloud are being contemplated. The contrast between the styles of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao is clear even in 7 Race Course Road, the official residence of the Prime Minister, where the Conversation took place. Whereas in times of political turmoil the ‘7 RCR” awns would resonate to the sound of demonstrations of support in Mrs. Gandhi’s time, today despite the rising political temperature outside they are deserted, save for the odd gardener. As for the Prime Minister himself, Rao has not thus far deviated from a calibrated response mode, refusing to change his style despite the open attack on his leadership from within the Congress Party.
Over the past few weeks ever since the Andhra Pradesh and Kamataka results were declared friends and advisers of the Prime Minister have been prodding him to take preemptive action against his rivals by stripping them of their posts before them themselves quit.
‘I am soon entering my 75th year,’ he said, and I do not propose to change my style. Let people accept me, if they wish to, as I am.’
At the same time, the indications are that he would accept Tiwari’s resignation with speed, and appoint a replacement.
The Prime Minister does not wish to be seen as fractional leader, he said, the indications are that he Proposes to continue with his strategy of drawing out opponents, forcing them to make their moves and hopefully mistakes. Preemptive action would go against this strategy. At the same time, those leaders within the states who are looking for a free hand! Because the PM is *weak” may be in for a disappointment. None of them are likely to be permitted this luxury, whether it be Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra, J.B. Patnaik in Orissa, Chaibasa Mehta in Gujarat or Jagannath Mishra in Bihar. They will be told to carry ‘all sections’ with them, and ensure that these groups are accommodated in the list of candidates for the February polls. This was evident from the manner in which the Maharashtra assembly poll committee was constituted. In order to dispel the perception that he is ‘indecisive’ and ‘afraid to act,’ changes in the party are likely to take place not just at the central level but in the states as well. There may be a change of guard in states such as Tamil Nadu, where the base of the Congress Party has been shrinking.
Rao’s perception is that “the grassroots base of the ruling Party, is still intact,” and it is only at the higher levels that factions and fissures come into play. In order encourage grassroots retain the PM may revive the system of party elections that has been frozen for two years.
As for Arjun Singh, the PM said he was surprised at the charges, leveled by the former HRD minister, pointing out that Singh “and, indeed the entire Working Committee” was party to decisions to postpone the inners, party polls “because of assembly elections.” His view is that there will be a few takers for Singh’s, belated attempt to break ranks over, issues that had his consent either, as a member of the Union cabinet or as a member of the Congress, Working Committee.
The Prime Minister, as he put it, refuses to do a “bharatanatyam, dance” and suddenly change his style or his policies. He is convinced that both are essentially, sound, and that as the clock ticks” for the Lok Sabha polls, the advantages of stability and! Consistency will become evident, to the benefit of the party he leads.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 6, 1995
