For Left, Cong has deal ready

The resumption of coordination meetings between the UPA and the Left still hangs fire as the Congress coalition managers are not in favour o...

The resumption of coordination meetings between the UPA and the Left still hangs fire as the Congress coalition managers are not in favour of a formal communication from Congress president Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Left parties on the disinvestment of the Navratna PSUs.

The Congress has informally suggested to the Left parties a number of options—including an amendment to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), a statement on Navratna disinvestment by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or a resolution against disinvestment of profit-making Navratnas in Parliament.

Party sources point out that 10, Janpath would like to keep itself out of the issue as the verbal assurance was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat. It is now left to the Prime Minister to sort it out when he returns from the UNGA on September 17.

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Congress leaders argue that it would be difficult for the Prime Minister to write a formal letter to parties supporting the UPA from outside on a policy issue.

However, the Congress leadership is willing to look at amending the national common minimum programme as the document clearly says that it is against disinvestment for short-term gains but falls short of taking a categorical stand on the Navratna disinvestment as reiterated by the party.

The UPA-Left coordination meeting has become a symbol of differences between the two on the issue of disinvestment in public sector undertakings. The Left walked out of the coordination meeting after the discussion on BHEL disinvestment nearly two months ago. That meeting was attended by CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s A.B. Bardhan.