NEW DELHI, 19 June 2004 — The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party were both struggling to deal with internal rifts. The left parties have started a campaign against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh government’s decision to increase the petrol prices. Viewing the hike as “anti-people,” they want the government to withdraw it. While Manmohan Singh has tried to pacify the agitating left parties, Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Iyer has ruled out a rollback.

During a 70-minute meeting with leaders of the left parties, Manmohan Singh assured them yesterday that all possible steps would be taken to ensure that the spirit of the Common Minimum Program (CMP) is reflected in the coming general and railway budgets.

The demand of the left parties’ leaders for a rollback in the petroleum price-rise was also discussed. The left parties were represented by CPI (M) Lok Sabha leader Basudev Acharya, party politbureau member Dipankar Mukherjee, CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan and All India Forward Bloc General Secretary Devarat Biswas.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Prithvi Singh Chauhan were also present at the meeting.

Later, Biswas said: “We have told Dr. Manmohan Singh that the government should implement the policies and programs as enunciated in the CMP.”

The budget must reflect people’s aspirations, particularly the thrust on areas like agriculture, unemployment and rural development, the left leaders said.

Ruling out a “rollback” in the hike of petroleum prices, Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Iyer said: “Ours is not a rollback government. What has been decided has been implemented.” On the opposition of the left front parties to the price hike, he said: “I have no problem with mild criticism.”

The BJP camp has been divided over the Gujarat issue and whether it should be discussed at the party’s forthcoming executive committee meeting and whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi should be asked to quit office. Eventually, the party has had to give in to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s insistence that the Gujarat issue must be discussed.

“BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu has convened the party’s parliamentary board meeting on June 20 to discuss the Lok Sabha debacle, besides the Gujarat issue,” senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan said yesterday. The meeting has been convened after party president Naidu talked to Vajpayee and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.

Both Jaswant Singh and he were present along with Naidu when Advani spoke to Vajpayee in Manali, Mahajan said. There are nine members in the BJP board and one special invitee.

The meeting holds significance as it comes ahead of the party’s National Executive meeting in Bombay from June 22 to 24. Earlier this week, Naidu had announced that Gujarat would not be discussed at the meeting.

There are reports that Modi is likely to hand in his resignation at the meeting. The BJP stalwarts are likely to discuss on June 20, whether his resignation should be accepted or not and the related developments.

Vajpayee displayed his mastery over attracting political and media attention, even while he is no longer in office, by making a crucial announcement. He said yesterday, “I accept maximum responsibility for the defeat because elections were fought in my name. I will do penance for it.”

On what he means by penance, Vajpayee replied, “I will work very hard. There will be no lacking in hard work.”

Meanwhilke, share prices fell 1.44 percent yesterday in thin trade as investors sold blue chips amid a lack of interest in the market ahead of the federal budget due next month, dealers said.

The Bombay Stock Exchange’s 30-share Sensex index shed 69.89 points to close at 4,769.99.

After a sharp rally Thursday, caution prevailed ahead of the weekend with no positive trigger for the market, dealers said.