|
 Budget
and elections
It is futile to accuse
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram of presenting a budget with an
eye on the polls. Parliamentary democracy is all about
elections and budget is a legitimate weapon in the hands of
any government. It was known before the budget that this would
in effect be the last budget of the UPA government even if it
were to run its full term and therefore experts should have
been ready for an exercise that is both sound in economics as
well as being capable of winning the votes. In fact, both the
Railways and the general budget should be seen in this light.
For all Lalu Prasad Yadav’s demagoguery, he knows right from
wrong and cannot be faulted for piloting the railways to
heights it has never been before. Chadamabaram, on the other
hand, can be accused of not being caring enough for the farm
sector earlier but he has more than made up for the lapse by
announcing a loan waiver not known by the country before.
There is some valid criticism about not doing enough for
agriculture when so much progress is being made in other
sectors. It does need greater investment and one must hope
that the waiving of the loans is but a first step towards
more.
Along with the two
budgets, one cannot miss the significance of the announcement
that the nuclear deal with the USA would go ahead. The Left
has expectedly responded with the threat to withdraw support
and the impetuous A.B.Bardhan has gone to the extent of
putting that in a letter. Both the possibilities are real and
one can expect the mid term poll to the Lok Sabha anytime now.
The Congress workers, who were jittery till the other day
because of the resurgent BJP, rising prices and general
hopelessness, are now ready for the battle. They have a clear
indication in words and deeds of the good intentions of their
leadership and therefore they can confidently fight out for
the tag of champion of the ‘Aam Adami.’ If the elections are
not round the corner then the Congressmen have the luxury of
preparing for the polls in greater detail. |
