Fight is against perception that big companies do deals with government: Montek

The biggest challenge on policy front is the fight against the perception that a small number of big corporations do cozy deals with the government,

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahulwalia has said.

He also said the new government after elections will get a considerable time during which whatever initiatives it wants to take will not be questioned. But probably 6-8 months down the line the honeymoon period will be over and all the issues will come up again, he warned, even as he said "a broad continuation" of policies will give better results as there is a surprising amount of overlap in what the two major political parties want.

"From the policy point of view, the biggest thing we have to fight against is the perception that a small number of big companies do cozy deals with the government. Along with the revolution of rising expectations, there is a global distrust of governments all over the world. We suffer from that too," Ahluwalia said addressing India business conference at the Columbia Business School.

His comments come in the backdrop of allegations of crony capitalism flying thick and fast. It may be noted that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal during his 49-day tenure as the Delhi Chief Minister had ordered CAG audit of power discoms and initiated action against Reliance Industries and Oil Minister Veerappa Moily in February charging them with complicity in fixing gas prices.

Ahluwalia said that "messages" coming out from all major political parties ahead of and during national elections is that there is keenness to restore investor confidence, no rollback and confidence that India can do well in a global integrated economy.

"I personally think that those will be the policies that will be put in place," he said. "If you look at the manifestos of the two major parties, there is a surprising amount of overlap in what they want. Everybody seems to want growth, wants to be inclusive, (realise that) infrastructure is important, we need to do more in education," he said.

He said while any new government would make improvements and alterations in political and economic policies, "a broad continuation of these policies will actually produce a better results".