NEW DELHI, 30 December 2005 — In an apparent attempt to act as a pressure group within the United Progressive Alliance(UPA), its two key constituents — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and TRS — yesterday announced the formation of an informal group within to “review” the implementation of the coalition’s Common Minimum Program (CMP).
TRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who has had meetings with leaders of UPA allies in recent days, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, JMM leader Shibu Soren and RJD chief Lalu Yadav, told reporters that the “non-Congress, nonleft” parties would like to deliberate on the implementation of the CMP and other relevant issues and give suggestions to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The labor minister’s comments were echoed by Lalu, who said that the government has to run for five years and there was need for parties to come together for review on the CMP as to what more needs to be done.
Reacting to the development, the Congress said there were no cracks in the coalition and described the reports as “rumors”.
Rao, who heads the five-member TRS in the Lok Sabha and has a grouse over not achieving his separate Telangana state, said, “Twenty months have passed since the UPA came to power. We have made promises in the CMP. We would like to review the implementation of the program and give our suggestions to the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi.”
Denying that the parties are forming a “pressure group”, Rao said the aim is to strengthen UPA so that the alliance can complete its five-year term smoothly.
Rao said, “There is no politics and conspiracy in this. We all want the government to continue in power for five years and do well. We are doing this on a positive note.”
The meeting of the group, likely to take place sometime in January, would also discuss how “coalition dharma” was followed in the last 20 months, Rao said.
