NEW DELHI: Veteran Karan Singh has paved way for Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav as chairman of the ethics committee in Rajya Sabha, marking the growing bond between Congress and the UP outfit that has bailed out the Centre at critical junctures.
The chairmanship of a key Rajya Sabha panel, that commands respect on bipartisan lines, is seen as the Centre's 'thank you' message to Samajwadi Party. Karan Singh resigned as chairman of the ethics panel after the winter session of Parliament, having headed it for eight long years, and has since assumed charge of another committee. He was replaced by Yadav.
The swap has been in the works ever since SP refused to join the government but continued to help the UPA. The ruling party's dilemma revolved around how it could be seen as returning the favour. Recently, Mulayam Singh Yadav directed his party to walk out of the two Houses of Parliament on the FDI policy to help the government that stared at serious embarrassment.
Congress appeared to oblige the UP outfit when it did not press hard for 'reservation in promotions' measure in Lok Sabha. The constitutional amendment is the pet issue of BSP chief Mayawati but is a red rag to Samajwadis. The half-hearted attempts to promulgate 'promotion quota' drew strong allegations from the Bahujan supremo who accused the government of compromising the interests of dalits and tribals.
Samajwadi Party has shared a complex relationship with Congress, siding with UPA-2 despite the bitter falling out in 2009 elections. It continued to help the Centre in Parliament despite Congress leading a vitriolic campaign against the party in the state. The equations were expected to change after SP stormed to power in March 2012, with calculations that the groundswell in its favour would also help it in early Lok Sabha polls.
However, UPA pre-empted Mulayam's possible adventurism by ensuring that it would survive a pullout by SP. The evidence came after the withdrawal of support by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee over the issue of petrol price hike and FDI in retail in September 2012. With BSP and the Left reluctant to pull the plug, Samajwadis too were compelled to maintain the status quo.
Congress has been careful in not provoking SP, keeping silent against the Akhilesh Yadav government and even catering to its interests at the Centre.
According to observers, the big test for the relationship will come in the budget session when the UPA will need to keep allies on its side to push through the finance bill. A section of SP argues that an impression of being aligned with the Centre, especially its tough economic reforms, would hurt the party if anti-incumbency is strong in the elections.
Ramgopal Yadav named Rajya Sabha ethics panel chairman
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Ramgopal Yadav named Rajya Sabha ethics panel chairman
