Coalition governments to continue in future: Mirdha

Panaji, Jun 11 (UNI) Asserting that coalition governments are going to stay in future as well, former Union Minister Ramnivas Mirdha said the UPA government at the Centre has not violated ''coalition dharma'' as alleged by the Left parties but stuck to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) reflective of Congress manifesto.

Interacting with mediapersons at the Goa Congress Party headquarters here today, the veteran party leader said it was for the party high command to decide whether to go alone in the next elections to Lok Sabha or forge tie-up with other parties.

Despite continuous pressure from the Left partners, the UPA government did not deviate from implementing the CMP, which was reflective of the Congress election manifesto, nor did it violate ''coalition dharma''.

Stating that price rise was a ''Global phenomenon as a result of imported inflation,'' Mr Mirdha described the BJP leadership as ''irresponsible opposition'' for censuring the Centre on the issue without proposing specific price control measures.

''The government has been on the right track to check inflation and price rise while maintaining 8.5 per cent growth despite constraints imposed by the RBI on credit. What else is good governance?,'' he quipped.

Congratulating Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for completing one year in office on June 8 despite coalition issue, Mr Mirdha favoured a ''national debate'' on doubling the number of assembly constituencies from 40 in Goa and more in the North-East where, political instability following defections was marked.

He also observed that the BJP in Karnataka lost its claimed ''national character'' with no Muslim chosen for the just concluded hustings for the Assembly.

Pooh-poohing the BJP contention that the Congress had met with waterloo in Karnataka elections, Mr Mirdha said the Congress in fact improved its voting strength and won more seats and was poised to gain victory in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Mirdha was here to present some cultural awards as Chairman of the Central Sangeet Natak Academy.

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