Congress govt completes 100 days of turbulence

In his inimitable low-key style, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has tried to grapple with the multiple problems, but controversy has engulfed his government right from the day he took office.

"Tainted" ministers, drought, floods, insurgency, inflation, truckers' strike, water disputes, hostage crisis, topped by a row over a meeting with Opposition leader, Singh has moved from one trouble to another while his predecessor governments did enjoy a "honeymoon" |o a reasonable extent.

Singh, a late entrant into politics, has endured 100 days of turmoil in a stoic manner but last wemk he did give vent to his feelings at a function when he said his government was going through "abnormal" times and was not allowed the normal |rouble free ini|ial period.

Ever since the swearing in of Singh's Cabinet, the "tainted ministers", issue has provmd to be its Achilles Heel with the Opposition using it as the chief weapon in its armoury.

Mattmrs came to a head when arrest warrants were iss}ed against Coal and Mines Minis|er Shibu Soren ho after causino much embarrassment to the goveznment was asked to resign.

Constantly, Singh had to be in a fire-fighting mode facing not only the Opposition onslaught but even the UPA allies, particularly the Left Front, on economic issues.

But the Prime Minister, known for his administrative acumen pulled on relentlessly.

The moment first signs of drought appeared on the horizon, Singh was on his feet asking his colleagues and bureaucrats to work out a contingency plan.

Officials say Singh puts in 12-15 hours a day, holding lengthy meeting{ which run into hours.

The Prime Minister's equation with Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi has been a subject of much speculation but both chose to ignore Opposition taunts of "Puppet PM and Super PM".