By IANS,
New Delhi: The second term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has been marked by a few successes in assembly polls and a spate of controversies, including the Adarsh housing society, 2G spectrum and Commonwealth Games scams. The controversies have led to resignations and arrest of some high-profile politicians.
Timeline of major events during UPA-II
May 22, 2009: Manmohan Singh takes oath as prime minister of second UPA government.
Oct 22, 2009: Congress wins polls in Arunachal Pradesh, emerges single largest party in Haryana; wins polls in alliance with Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra.
Dec 23, 2009: Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Alliance wins 25 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.
April 1, 2010: Right to Education becomes a fundamental right.
April 18, 2010: Shashi Tharoor resigns as minister of state for external affairs following controversy over his mentoring of Kochi Indian Premier League franchise.
Nov 9, 2010: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan resigns over Adarsh Housing Society scam.
Nov 9, 2010: Congress removes party MP Suresh Kalmadi as secretary of parliamentary party following allegations of corruption in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
Nov 14, 2010: DMK’s A.Raja resigns as communications and IT minister over 2G spectrum scam.
Nov 16, 2010: Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on 2G controversy tabled in parliament.
Nov 24, 2010: Congress fares poorly in Bihar assembly polls getting only four seats.
Jan 19, 2011: Supreme Court expresses displeasure over the government’s reluctance in coming forward with full information on the black money stashed by Indians in foreign banks.
Jan 19, 2011: Prime minister carries out first reshuffle of cabinet.
Feb 17, 2011: Government cancels controversial S-band spectrum deal between Antrix, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, and private firm Devas Multimedia.
Feb 24, 2011: Joint parliamentary committee (JPC) formed to look into the 2G spectrum controversy following opposition’s relentless demand that led to wash-out of winter session of parliament.
March 3, 2011: Supreme Court quashes appointment of P.J. Thomas as central vigilance commissioner over the appointing committee not considering relevant material, including a pending criminal case against him in the Palmolein import case.
April 9, 2011: Government forms joint drafting panel on Lokpal Bill following a fast by social activist Anna Hazare.
April 25, 2011: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrests Kalmadi over criminal conspiracy in buying timing, scoring and result (TSR) systems from a Swiss company at an inflated cost.
May 13, 2011: Congress wins elections in Assam, Kerala; loses Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and by-elections in three states; wins in West Bengal as junior partner of Trinamool Congress
May 20, 2011: DMK MP and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi arrested for involvement in 2G spectrum scam and sent to Tihar jail