Click to play videoNew Delhi/Bhopal: When it comes to convincing his colleagues to practice economic prudence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems powerless. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath kicked off an early campaign for his party by promising free electricity if Congress comes to power.
“Every farmer’s bill will be waived off,” declared Nath at a rally.
In the last elections in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress was voted out of power over the issue of bijli, sadak and paani (electricity, roads and water). So, this time the Congress is not willing to take any chance.
The latest announcement from Nath comes at a time when the state is going through a severe power crisis with scheduled power cuts of up to 18 hours in rural areas becoming a norm.
In fact, desperation levels have risen to such an extent that people have now started attacking electricity board offices and employees.
Under siege from inflation and rising fuel prices, the PM is pleading not to choose the subsidy shortcut. In fact, he has told his ministers and party colleagues not to promise free power and other subsidies. But fresh from defeat in Karnataka and determined to win state elections, vote catching sops seem more important than fiscal prudence.
“This is social upliftment for those who are poorest of poor. This is part of the Government’s plan to help the poor. This is not what you would call wasteful expenditure,” Congress Spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said.
It’s yet another case of a clash between the PM's economic concerns and party's worry about poll results. Singh may want no subsidies but will his party be able to give up poll sops?
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