Government needs course correction: Union Minister Praful Patel tells NDTV

New Delhi: Beset with a series of scams and allegations of corruption, the year gone by hasn't been particularly memorable for the UPA-II which completes four years in office tomorrow. A sentiment reflected in Union Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel's admission that the government needs a "huge course correction".

Mr Patel, whose party has been a longstanding ally of the Congress, told NDTV that the Centre had faltered in certain areas and there were issues of perception.

"Issues of corruption have been important to the nation and, rightly so.... Yes, a couple of things have come one after the other and that has created a lot of negativity," he said.

The NCP leader was alluding to the crises that the government has been battling in the last few months, with the recent coal and railway bribery scams having triggered a political firestorm, even engulfing the Prime Minister, whose image has taken a severe beating. The Opposition has called the UPA-II the "most corrupt" government ever.

It's an extremely worrying situation for the government which prepares to present its last Report Card tomorrow ahead of the General Elections next year. Reports of a rift between the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the recent sacking of two Union Ministers haven't helped either.

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The government has also not been able to make headway in its much-talked about National Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill, seen by the Congress as game changers in 2014. A sluggish economy has only compounded its problems.

But Mr Patel, who made it clear that the NCP's alliance with the Congress continues to stand strong, defended the government, saying it had taken corrective action.

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"All is not lost... good decisions have been taken whether in social welfare schemes or economic decisions," he said.

But the UPA-II, which gears up for its fourth anniversary, knows it has a tough task ahead.