TMC, BJP tear into UPA's defence of fuel price hike, LPG cap and FDI

New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress and the Opposition are using the CNN-IBN poll to target the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and its recent economic decision to claim that these are not in the interest of the country. The poll shows that a majority of urban India has slammed the recent hike in diesel prices, the subsidy cap on LPG and three out four urban Indians don't support FDI in retail either.

While Trinamool leaders have pointed out that the poll vindicates party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's stand and decision to exit the UPA over diesel price hike, cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and foreign direct investment in multi-brand-retail; the Opposition has used it to take on the UPA leadership and claims that the poll is a complete rejection of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's leadership.

"Mamata Banerjee has come out with shining colours. And here you are not talking about the rural India, which would even given a bigger thumbs up to Mamata's decision. People are saying she was absolutely right," TMC leader Amit Mitra.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudheendra Kulkarni questioned the authority of the Prime Minister to continue in office, saying that his recent reforms measures have failed to impress the common man. "I was just looking at all the responses on various questions. It is complete a rejection of UPA's policies, performance and especially the Prime Minister's leadership," said Kulkarni.

However, the Congress believes that the reforms will help the government move from survival to revival. "Survival is not something that is really at stake, I think that is something that is quite confirmed. I think revival is something that is beginning," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said.

Feeling the pinch of the fuel price hike, the urban middle class has dealt a severe blow to the Manmohan Singh Government, giving the Prime Minister's push for reforms a big thumbs down. The aam admi, Congress' target group, feels the government has not just lost credibility in the face of corruption charges, but also that its policies are burning a hole in their pockets.

A CNN-IBN survey conducted across six urban cities shows that 57 per cent feel UPA 2 has failed its battle against inflation. The other big let down is corruption with 32 per cent of the respondents claiming it’s a matter of concern.

After Mamata's exit, UPA 2 is struggling with numbers but adding to the nightmare are DMK and NCP who're now demanding a rollback of reforms. The Congress may try to appease its allies with sweet deals but the aam admi is gunning for its head.

When asked if the government's decision to hike diesel prices is justified, 87 per cent said no and that's a figure the government needs to worry about, and revamp its game-plan for 2014.

The decision to reduce the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders to 6 is hurting every kitchen as had been predicted by the Left and other opposition parties.

The government stands isolated with 93 per cent of Indians saying the move is unjust. In capital Delhi 99 per cent of the respondent have voted against the government's move.

So what should the limit on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders in a year be? The people of India say a realistic one cylinder per month is an essential requirement.

Battling negative public perception here's another shocker for the government. Dr Manmohan Singh's push for FDI in retail, a move clearly aimed at winning the support of the urban middle class has backfired at well.

A vehement no coming from 76 per cent of the respondents when asked if they think FDI in retail is a correct decision.