The United Progressive Alliance government has completed one year of its second term. Looking back at its track record, any perceptible observer would simply notice the striking difference in the policies of first and second editions of UPA government.  Of course, there exists a clear difference in the political character of these two editions of UPA. The first UPA government was functioning with the external support from the Left parties. While the second edition of UPA has an increased influence of Congress party.

The UPA government came back to power in 2009 against a backdrop of unprecedented global financial recession and its adverse impact on Indian economy. Infact, the deleterious effects of global recession were minimized due to breaks applied by the Left to the reformist agenda of Congress led UPA. Interestingly, the Congress led UPA which chided the Left for its resistance to reforms is now claiming credit for the minimizing the adverse impact of recession.


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says his government could steer the country out of recession and the economy is on a recovery path. The economy has registered an annual growth rate of 9.07 percent during 2004-2008. The global recession begun   in 2008 .The growth rate fell to 6.4 percent in 2008-2009. It has improved to 7.5 percent in 2009-10 and is expected to record an 8.5 percent growth in 2010-11. But, this recovery is undone by unprecedented inflation. The plight of the people is compounded by the near 20 percent food grain inflation. The biggest failure of UPA –II government is   on the price front. The lame excuses can no longer satisfy the people reeling under heavy burden of price rise. The Prime minister claimed that his government has introduced National Social Security Fund for the unorganized workers. Perhaps he meant that this is the social safety net he is offering to the working millions. But, this measure is a mockery. The government wants to ensure the social security of millions of unorganized workers who constitute over 90 percent of total working class through a paltry allocation of Rs.1000 crores.

The UPA- I government is credited with many significant legislative measures aimed at social development. In fact, these measures helped the Congress to improve its tally in 2009 and contributed significantly to UPA retaining power. But, the UPA-II regime lacks similar such commitment. The Food Security Act has not been passed. Every attempt is being made to rob this act of its shine by diluting the key provisions.  A similar lack of true commitment is displayed in regard to Right to Education Act. Though, RTE Act is welcome step, it is far from what is required. The pre school children were ignored. The right to secondary education for the children above 14 years is not taken into account. The legislation is not backed by necessary financial provision. The huge infrastructural deficit stares at us. Several state governments are expressing their inability to share their mandatory 45 percent contribution due to financial problem. The women’s reservation bill was not introduced in Loksabha. On the contrary the UPA-I government brought in the Employment  Guarantee Act, the Right to information Act, the Domestic violence Act, the Forest Rights act etc. But the spirit of even these legislations are also sought to be diluted by the UPA-II government’s policies.  The indiscriminate mining policy  is negating the gains accrued to tribals through Forest Rights Act. The amendments are being proposed to right to information Act to help higher echelons of judiciary, bureaucracy.

The second UPA government is credited with dirty scams. The 2 G Spectrum scam resulted in swindling of over 60,000 crores. The IPL scam has myriad number of ugly facets to it. The clean and honest prime minister is a passive spectator to all this.


The government continues to capitulate to the US. The speed with which the government is pushing the Nuclear Liability Bill is an indication of the servile nature of the UPA-II government. The Nuclear Liability bill aims at   freeing the US companies from any liability due to supplying of faulty equipment.

The UPA-II government is on the path of full steam reforms. The financial reforms are back on the agenda. The entry of foreign educational service provider’s bill is coming up. The disinvestment of profit making public sector units is again a policy priority.  The UPA-II government is signing the Free Trade agreements without any concern for the Indian peasantry.

The UPA-II government is politically in disarray. The Left during the UPA-I   pressed for only policy changes. Now, the allies are pulling the UPA in all directions dictated by partisan parochial interests. The DMK is asking for pound of flesh from UPA to shield its corrupt ministers. The TMC leader simply ignores governance as she has a single point agenda in Bengal. Even the congress ministers and leaders are under no obligation to work collectively. The pernicious influence of crony capital has increased manifold during the UPA-II government .This is evident from the UPA stand on many aspects like the Ambani row on KG Basin gas, the IPL etc. Profits are clearly put before the people.

This article is originally written for Deccan Post