After running a coalition government successfully at the Centre, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unveil a “report to the people” on the achievements of his government on Saturday. He will present the report on the occasion of the first anniversary of his government’s second consecutive term in office.
Dr Singh is the first Prime Minister of the Congress who is leading a coalition government at the Centre without compromising the core ideological issues of the party.
The BJP, which led a coalition government at the Centre for six years since 1998, put its ideological issues under the carpet.
The Opposition continued to remain divided inside and outside Parliament in the last six years, perhaps due to the UPA’s skill of running the coalition.
The Prime Minister has invited leaders of the Congress’ allies in the UPA and the supporting parties for the Saturday function to be followed by dinner at his 7, Race Course Road residence.
The Trinamul Congress chief and railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she will attend the function while DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi congratulated Dr Singh on the occasion of the first anniversary. He will depute a senior DMK leader to attend the function on his behalf.
DMK leaders T.R. Baalu and Union ministers A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran are expected to attend the celebrations.
NCP president and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has gone abroad and so also National Conference patron and Union minister Farooq Abdullah. In the absence of Mr Pawar, NCP deputy leader and Union minister Praful Patel would represent the party at the function, while Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah will represent the National Conference.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP supremo, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav too have been invited as they are supporting the Manmohan Singh government from outside.
The Janata Dal (S) too is backing the government. JD(S) sources indicated that the former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda may attend the function, But reports coming from Bengaluru say that he would take a decision on Saturday afternoon.