PM seeks support from allies on FDI in retail

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SME Times News Bureau | 10 Aug, 2012
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought cooperation from the allies of UPA-II for evolving consensus on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail.

In a meeting of the UPA coordination committee held in New Delhi on Wednesday, Singh sought the cooperation of allies for evolving consensus on allowing in foreign retailers.

Congress sources said the party members in the committee includes Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who heads the panel, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

In the past, Trinamool Congress had vetoed against some crucial decisions of the UPA government such as allowing FDI in multi-brand retail.

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, Indian Union Muslim League leader E. Ahamed, and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah are also the members.

The decision to form coordination committee was taken last month after NCP ministers Pawar and Praful Patel threatened to pull out of the UPA government after expressing unhappiness over "some aspects of working" of the coalition government .

The party leaders had also sought a revamp of coordination mechanism in Maharashtra where it shares power with the Congress.

The UPA coordination committee is expected to meet at least once a month "to discuss policy and other issues".

Congress sources said that the coordination panel will help iron out differences and prevent public sparring on policy issues as allies can raise their concerns before decisions were announced.

The sources said a coordination committee of alliance partners has been formed for the first time. During UPA-I, there was a coordination committee between Congress and Left parties.