The Manmohan Method * The PM is low-key but meticulous in understanding and implementing policy * He has monitored the NCMP on a monthly basis. The task was given to three IAS officers in the PMO. * Assessment of a political manifesto's implementation is unprecedented. * He has quietly pushed officers and tried to convince the political class to act on the NCMP. * In spite of disappointment over the Indo-US nuclear deal, he still hopes to make a mark in foreign policy through a trip to Pakistan. *** Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has always been a low-key individual, overshadowed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, heir-in-waiting Rahul Gandhi and other political heavyweights of the UPA government. Prices or the N-deal were not in the PM's hands. Where he saw potential was in the area of social legislation. But he is an economist and technocrat of international repute. And these are skills he has put to use quietly, behind the scenes. While there may be arguments about the actual power he wields, there are few doubts about his intent to govern. On May 22, the UPA will complete four years in power. It's a day the government releases its customary annual performance report. There is another exercise, however, that the PMO has undertaken for the first time. Outlook has obtained an exclusive copy of an internal assessment of the implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) adopted by the UPA when it came to power four years ago. The various promises made and policies adopted in the NCMP have been itemised into 142 general and specific commitments. Then a report card of sorts has been prepared. In some ways this is an extraordinary document as governments do not really bother to monitor the implementation of their political manifesto. The findings too are interesting as they reveal how the Manmohan Singh regime has made an attempt to implement virtually all the promises. For instance, in the areas of employment, agriculture, tribal rights and the promises made to minorities, the government has in effect gone according to the letter of the NCMP (see box). Of course, there can be a very legitimate debate on how effective these policies have been in improving the condition of the community or social strata that has been targeted. Indeed, sources close to the PM say that as far as the NCMP is concerned there is very little left for this government to do. Says an official: "There has even been concern that some of the clear achievements of the governments were in the public news too early for the UPA to take electoral advantage." But then there is the other argument that government schemes have little impact on electoral fortunes. It is emotive issues and considerations of caste and community that determine voting choices. And price rise does count. Sources say the PM had anticipated the price rise a year ago as he had carefully monitored global trends and rising oil prices. Says an officer: "A good monsoon could control the escalating prices." But that is clearly out of any PM's hands. Where Manmohan Singh did see the potential to bring in comprehensive changes was in the area of social legislation. From the time he occupied the high office, he created a team of three IAS officers, including secretary, PMO, Pulak Chatterjee, to monitor the NCMP. He then held a monthly review meeting to track how far the promises were being kept. Indeed for all the criticism thrown at Manmohan Singh for being "weak", many policy changes would not have taken place had he not grasped their potential and encouraged their implementation. He has run the PMO like a corporate office and monitored each point in the NCMP. He has quietly pushed officers and tried and convinced the political class to take action.A well-placed officer says that "purely in terms of running a government, this is unparalleled". As for the Indo-US deal, the PM's great disappointment over failing to clinch it is well-chronicled. This deal was not covered by the NCMP although Congress sources say their party manifesto promises to improve the strategic relationship with the US. Whether the Congress will still sign the deal and risk its last few months in office will depend on the results of the Karnataka polls due on May 25. Indeed, there is frustration that UPA allies like the DMK and RJD did not let the Congress challenge the Left to pull down the government a year ago when the economy was doing well and prices were under control. Meanwhile, the big question: what would Manmohan Singh like to do in the remaining months in office? PMO sources say he would certainly like to travel to Pakistan. External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit the neighbouring country this week and will in all likelihood finalise some dates for Manmohan Singh's trip. Sources say that it has been the internal situation in Pakistan that has delayed the long-pending visit by the Indian PM. Then, of course, till the very end, Manmohan Singh would be hoping that the nuclear deal is signed. That would really ensure his place in history. But then political decisions are not in the PM's hands. For things that are under his control, he has put his head to them and applied himself to the job. If the "report card" is an indication, then Manmohan Singh has proved why he has always been an A+ student.