News Politics National After 9 years in office, Manmohan Singh's govt faces a nationwide anti-incumbency mood

After 9 years in office, Manmohan Singh's govt faces a nationwide anti-incumbency mood

New Delhi, May 20: Manmohan Singh's political life has been full of surprises. When he entered politics in 1991 as India's finance minister, little did he realize that he will one day create a record



In 2011, hit by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, the government passed the anti-graft Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha that got stuck in the Rajya Sabha.
 


In 2012, the UPA II went ahead with economic reforms allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, provoking the Trinamool Congress to quit the alliance.
 
In 2013, the DMK exited the UPA as well.
 
The big ticket food security and land acquisition bills, which the UPA II would like to showcase in the 2014 general elections, are stuck up in the Lok Sabha as the BJP did not allow the house to run.

A closer scrutiny makes it clear that the 2014 battle is not going to be that easy for the Congress led UPA. Even Congress functionaries concede the poor perception that the public has about UPA govt but they put the blame on opposition and media.
 
"We need to tell people of our work and communicate that the negative perception is because the opposition is painting a picture and a section of media is sensationalising issues," added Congress' Shakeel Ahmed.
Some Congress leaders don't take the seeting public anger seriously as they believe that every ruling dispensation faces such anger.
 
"Corruption and high prices of food items are a concern for us but public anger was there against the NDA government also," Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal told IANS.