M A I N   N E W S

Rahul stuns Cong men, skips Manmohan’s farewell dinner
Sonia to decide on PM’s future role; may join CWC
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14
Caught in a series of attacks from former aides in the PMO and current colleagues in the Cabinet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh finally had his share of appreciation from the Congress as it went out of its way today to thank the man who gave India “a decade of growth”.

Culminating in a farewell dinner hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence this evening, the day was all about lavish praise for Dr Singh, who was lauded for steering the economy and ensuring inclusive development as head of UPA-1 and UPA-II. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi stayed away.

The striking part of the story remained that the appreciation followed recent direct attacks on Dr Singh’s manner of functioning from his friends in the Cabinet (read Kamal Nath) and Congress (read spokesperson PC Chacko and Anil Shastri among others). To soften some of the bluntness from these recent attacks as Manmohan Singh bows out, the Congress first posted a 50-second video on its website, thanking him for a range of developmental initiatives, starting with making India the world’s third largest economy by trumping Japan. It also started an online campaign urging people to sign a farewell card for Dr Singh, though it will be known after the May 16 results whom the Congress will blame for its expected rout -- the PM-led government or the Rahul Gandhi-led party.

The video, loaded after Sonia’s clearance, talks of how Dr Singh’s policies led to 88 per cent increase in installed power capacity since 2004 and an 87 per cent increase in rural electrification. It refers to the 2 lakh km of rural roads constructed during the UPA’s regime under the PM and how the Congress-led government added three times more highways in 10 years than the BJP-led NDA did in its time.

From the rise in air passenger traffic to the rise in rural telephone density and Internet access, the Congress showered generous praise on Dr Singh, whose political future in the party remains uncertain. Sonia would personally decide his future role at a later stage.

So far, it’s clear he may not be Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha whose member he will remain. “After being the PM he would have to take a mentoring role and not be a Leader of Opposition,” said a Congress leader, adding that Sonia could give him a more permanent role in the Congress Working Committee.

For the PM, the days ahead would be tough, especially if the BJP-led NDA comes to power, as exit polls have predicted.

The BJP has been questioning the PM’s role in the 2G and coal allocation scams and all cases are in the courts. “With the protective shield of PM-ship gone, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Manmohan Singh and the Congress. But let us be clear – the destinies of PM and the Congress are linked,” a Congress leader said.

‘A decade of growth’

• Our per capita income increased three-fold; average GDP growth rate has been 7.7% under the PM
• Under Manmohan's UPA, power capacity doubled, over one lakh villages electrified, lakhs connected in urban and rural areas through better roads and aviation hubs
• Telephone, Internet density improved; lakhs of new jobs created
• We invested in Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor that will benefit 180 million