Monday, February 21 2005 19:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: The decision to separate governance from politicking in the Congress party has come in for praise from the leading American magazine 'Newsweek' which said it has helped push reforms without incurring much political damage.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are starting to demonstrate that the country might be better run with "multiple centres" of power at the top, it said in an article being published in its upcoming issue.

Though many Indians doubted that the two-headed arrangement would work, the magazine said, "Having two leaders at the top has led not to confusion in New Delhi, but to a newfound and welcome vibrancy."

"By detaching the task of governing from politicking, India's odd couple has pushed reforms without incurring much political damage."

"Singh handles public policy almost full time; Gandhi takes care of the politics. As a result, both jobs get the full attention they deserve," it said. "Gandhi wants to rebuild the Congress party into a dominant national force. Singh wants to modernise India's economy and its schools, and to create greater trust between India and its key neighbours - Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh."

"Teamwork may be the right strategy, but the toughest challenge may come from inside the Congress team. In recent State elections in Bihar and Jharkhand, Gandhi campaigned for Congress candidates against parties in her coalition."

"The odd couple may actually need a third figure to make the team complete," it said.