BT Retro: The doctor's choice

The doctor’s choice
June 20, 2004

Circa 2004, Singh is politician first, economist later. His government is a coalition of 15 parties, and dependant on the support of the Communist Party of India, CPI, and Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (M). With Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who refused the PM's post, Singh will have to manage the coalition and keep the communist parties happy. The United Progressive Alliance’s Common Minimum Programme (CMP) is more an exercise in balance than a vision statement of governance. Its economic message is a garbled mix of free-market imperatives and welfare-state ideals.

Post script
Our cover story turned out to be prophetic with Singh spending most of 2004-09 trying to keep the Left happy. But he emerged from it as a smarter politician.