The Congress-led UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will step into the third year of its second term on Sunday. The success of the two-year rule of the UPA could be gauged from the fact the Congress wrested back Kerala from the Left, retained power in Assam and virtually became victorious in West Bengal in the recently concluded Assembly elections to the four states.
However, 79-year old Singh, who got to the Prime Minister’s seat after Mrs Gandhi refused to assume the office in the summer of 2004, it has been some trouble time for him in the last over eight months. But swift actions were taken and the law started catching up with the culprits. Despite some temporary set backs, the ruling coalition has arranged some celebrations at the Prime Minister’s residence on Sunday evening to mark the occasion.
Moreover, the year ahead is going to be challenging one as the elections to several states including Uttar Pradesh are scheduled. The UPA will also have to decide who will be the next President and vice-president.
In the eyes of global leaders and investors, the country is “coming of age”. A number of global leaders have acclaimed India as a responsible, rising power, inviting it to take the seat at big table of world affairs.
An economic growth rate of 8.5 per cent this year puts India firmly alongside China as one of the world’s fastest-growing large economies.
AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, meanwhile, cited a number of legislations passed and under the process during this government claiming UPA stands “confident and strong”.
The Congress leader compared the Unique Identification Project in UPA II with NREGA of UPA I saying the measure is revolutionary and expressed confidence that the Judicial Accountability and Standards Bill and the Whistle Blower Bill will soon become a reality.
Mr Singhvi also patted the government for maintaining an average growth rate in both UPA and UPA II saying it was better than the highest annual growth during NDA.