With a score of 206 in the parliament, it is an aggressive Congress that is trying to set the agenda for UPA’s second stint at the Centre.

Just as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised a corruption free govt after being sworn in, within a fortnight the first controversy shook up the coalition.

A Chennai medical college’s administration was caught on tape asking for Rs 20 lacs for a admission. Shri Balaji Medical College and Hospital is allegedly linked to Union minister of state for Information & Broadcasting S Jagathrakshakan, a DMK MP.

And the Congress is in no mood to relent.

"I have started the investigation into the the deemed University Colleges. We will have to wait for the report. We will not take any more applications for deemed university status and overall educational system needs to be changed," said Kapil Sibal, Union HRD Minister.

While the UPA was still recovering from the aftereffects of this, the NCP made matters worse as senior party leader and MP Padam Singh Patil was arrested by the CBI in connection with the murder of a Congress leader and his cousin Pawanraje Nimbalkar in June, 2006.

"Law will take its own course. If at all he is found guilty the NCP will disassociate itself with him," said  Praful Patel, MoS Civil Aviation.

With Sharad Pawar’s close aide being arrested for murder, there is pressure within the NCP to leave the UPA as a sign of protest against the Congress trying to browbeat the Maratha strongman.

The Congress maintains that this incident will not affect Congress NCP ties.

"The matter is sub judice. It is NCP's call whether or not to take action against Patil. This incident will not affect the relationship between Congress and NCP," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Minister for Heavy Industries.

The Congress appears to be in a wait and watch mode, while the opposition in Maharashtra raises the pitch for Patil being axed.