HVK Archives: A sterling role
A sterling role - The Observer
Editorial
()
6 June 1996
Title : A sterling role
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Observer
Date : June 6, 1996
THE organised manner in which the United Front and its
supporters have gone about the business of setting up
government belies the expectation in several quarters
that differences among the Front constituents would make
the new power edifice at the Centre shaky from day one.
The task of ministry-making, which could have been a
major stumbling block, was achieved speedily and with a
finesse that has managed to keep dissident voices quiet.
The first policy statements from ministers who have just
assumed charge has strengthened the perception of
political 'Observers that a lot of homework is going into
every step the Front has taken so far, so that nothing is
being said or done which can raise doubts among the
Front's own constituents about the manner of its
functioning.
Much of the credit for this must go to the Steering
Committee of the Front. Comprising the senior leaders of
all the parties which have committed themselves to the
Deve Gowda government and its programme of action, the
Committee has been working overtime, through a back-up,
of the second ranking leadership which goes through every
issue in detail, to solve differences of the kind which
in the past have ended coalition governments. The
finance minister, P Chidambaram's statement on his
priorities is a good example of the persuasive abilities
of the steering committee. It has been able to reconcile
the strong views of several Front partners, and the left
parties, on economic reforms to present an Image of
continuity with past policies, as demanded by the
Congress(I) as the price for its support.
The practice of having an all-party steering committee as
the political guide of a multi party government has
been, successful in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the
states where the left parties have strong political
bases. Their experience of running stable multi-party
governments will no doubt prove to he of great value in
keeping the 'present coalition at the centre together.
In the final analysis, however, while the clarity it can
impart to issues it handles will decide the resolution
of differences between members and supporters of the
Front, its, credibility will depend on the transparency
it can bring about in its own functioning.
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