First, no party that attacks its own government gets brownie points from voters. Second, since the economy can’t grow healthily without reforms and since a weakening of growth impulses won’t fetch the Congress extra votes, Manmohan Singh’s policies are negotiable in only one way — initiating more reforms. Third, the Congress’s biggest problems have nothing to do with Manmohan Singh’s policies. In UP and Bihar, the party is in a so far fruitless search for inspiration. In Gujarat, Narendra Modi is more worried about BJP dissidents. In MP, the BJP’s troubles haven’t meant gains for the Congress. In Punjab, the Akalis seem ready to bounce back. Manmohan Singh, arguably, can’t help the party in these cases. But neither can the senior Congressmen, backroom operators all, who gripe about him.