The Congress is finding it difficult to explain as to why there is no need to have a coordination committee between the party and its allies in the UPA when the Congress has decided to have such a mechanism between the Pradesh Congress Committees and Legislature Party at the state level.
In the UPA-I, the Congress had created such a mechanism between the party and the Left backing the government from outside, for better coordination. But the allies — DMK, NCP, RJD, LJP and others — were kept out of it on the ground that there was no need of such a formal committee because they were in the government and thus could meet the Prime Minister and the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi any time.
But in the UPA-II, the allies — DMK, Trinamul Congress, NCP and the National Conference — are appear to be not keen on having a structured coordination committee betweent the Congress and them. On the other hand, the supporting parties like — Samajwadi Party, BSP, RJD — are its main opponents in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They are backing the Manmohan Singh government out of compulsions and not convictions.
In her concluding remarks at the 83rd Congress Plenary session held at Burari in Delhi in December 2010, party chief Sonia Gandhi had said, “In states where we are in power, the AICC will set up coordination committees to ensure regular and close interaction between the government and the party organisation. Similar committees will be established in the Opposition-ruled states, as well to bring about greater cohesion between the CLP and the party organisation.”
AICC officials are unable to explain as to why no coordination committee has been set up at the Centre. They averted queries by reporters on Thursday at a time when lack of “communication” is creating a feeling of distrust between the Congress and allies.
The political resolution adopted by the party plenary said, “The necessity of coalition politics at the Central level does not prevent our state — level workers from hoping and dreaming of a larger political space wherever they may be and we as a party must be ‘cognisant and supportive ’of their aspirations.