Shortly after all six ministers from Trinamool Congress — the second largest constituent of UPA — resigned from the government and withdrew support of the party’s 19 Lok Sabha members to the ruling coalition, prime minister Manmohan Singh made a rare televised address to the nation.

Never known for his eloquence, the PM appeared a bit discomfited, but his words — though spoken mechanically — rang loud and clear. This was Manmohan the economist, not Manmohan the PM. The man who laid the foundation of India’s enlightened economy was handed an unenviable task while in the company of some unenviable allies. After coming out of the government’s scam-induced stupor, in the last few days Dr Singh has gone on a rampage with reforms. Allies who were happy to tag along with a corruption-riddled government decided to pull the plug when the leadership showed signs of coming out of a coma.