Manmohan looks set to be PM

With the backing of Sonia Gandhi, it seems as if Manmohan Singh will be the next Prime Minister of India. How do I feel about this? Well, slightly ambivalent. Obviously his selection has done wonders for the stock market, which, as I said in my last post, confuses me. But that apart, he has no popular base of any sort. I suspect he will be another Gujral kind of Prime Minister. Also, am not sure what his views on most issues- e.g. Pakistan, allying (or not) with US, and so on are. I guess only time will tell. Take a look at this article, for a good summary of events yesterday- it also contains a potted bio of Manmohan at the end.

In a related development, the DMK has decided to join the government, while the Left still resolutely stays away. This could really be the biggest blunder the Left has made in many years. If they wish to extend their sphere of influence outside West Bengal and Kerala, this was the prime opportunity to do so. I am not sure what calculations the high command has made- perhaps they think keeping out of power will save them from anti incumbency? But the truth is that if you see the last election as a series of smaller local elections, then this argument would fall through. Also, for two states that need development badly, the Left could have pushed some of its agenda through if it had more clout.

In Tamil Nadu, where Jayalalitha is probably still reeling from the election results, she has decided to give a number of sops to placate the people. Although the Hindu has praised her for listening to the voice of the people, I am not so sure. She is obviously doing whatever it takes to cling on to power, she hasn't grown democratic tentacles over night. And her withdrawal of cases against the media on charges of defamation proves that- it's not a 'democratic' move, it's just a desperate attemtp to silence her critics.

Finally, what are the implications of what Sonia has done, her stunning political sacrifice?? The Telegraph today suggests that there is a groundswell of opinion from the stock market supporting her decision. She's probably come off better in this exchange with the BJP. It makes her look as if she's not hungry for power, it removes the last real 'issue' that the BJP could have raised and ensures that even her detractors have nothing to say. George Fernandes' comment last night about her 'changing her mind' sounds like sour grapes now- after all she changed her mind, because parts of the NDA threatened to agitate and bring the country to a halt. Further, the NDA decision to attend the swearing in ceremony too looks rather stupid in the light of Sonia's fairly dignified statement. I suspect that underneath her political inexperience, lies a very very shrewd politician.