by GARGA CHATTERJEE
Irrespective of how this ends, the rules of engagement have possibly changed. The Trinamool has decided to quit the Union cabinet, opposing the decision of allowing FDI in multibrand retail, subsidy reduction in LPG and diesel. This may also mean an end of its relationship with the Congress. Beyond number games and the longevity of the present government and its policies, certain happenings may affect future politics.
The foremost among these is the Trinamool’s unmaking of the typical role of a regional second fiddle. In the contemporary political scene, the Congress and the BJP have come to represent poles around which other groups ought to coalesce. The expected role of such ‘partners’ is to stay out of macro policy decisions of the ‘national’ and ‘international’ import. There are entrenched and well-heeled Delhi-types to take care of those things – thank you very much. In return for looking away or nodding passively, they gain the right to haggle over their booty – ranging from outlays for specific provinces to ‘juicy’ ministry births and crony deals. Only the ideologically blinkered would see these as necessary evils that the righteous ‘national’ parties have to put up. Rather they are pay-offs to ‘pesky’ but necessary forces in the era of coalitions so that the right to the largest share of the spoil can be ensured. The regionals that are party to government are not expected to veto broad policy. It is this rule of the game that Trinamool has broken.
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