The Hindu Business Line : Coalition courtesies

Coalition politics has its own rules, with the majority party always careful to keep the alliance partners in good humour. Veteran scribes on government beat, therefore, noticed a new trend in the UPA regime, where meetings of the Groups of Ministers (GoM) are now mostly being held in the offices of Ministers from the supporting parties.

It was noticed during the GoM meeting that looked into the issue of FDI liberalisation and because the Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, headed the group, the meeting took place at Krishi Bhavan.

Another GoM, on the dedicated railway freight corridor, recently held two meetings, both at Rail Bhavan, where Lalu Prasad has his office.

Biggies like the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, and the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, turned up dutifully for the two meetings, unlike in the past, when GoMs invariably met in the North Block, which houses the Finance Ministry.

Though the NDA Government was also a coalition government, the practice was different. Journalists have seen senior Ministers of supporting parties and even top BJP leaders like Jaswant Singh turning up for meetings at the then Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha's office, irrespective of the fact that Sinha was quite junior in the BJP hierarchy.

The difference between the NDA and the UPA is that the BJP had overwhelming numbers in that coalition whereas the Congress does not enjoy such a luxury and has to make small gestures to keep its partners happy.

Our Bureau