Cong shuts Delhi doors on Khurana

For one, by retaining Khurana, the UPA Government has taken the sting out of the BJP’s ‘‘victimisation’’ campaign. While a defiant Khurana had refused to resign just two days ago, saying he had ‘‘not committed any crime’’, he had challenged the UPA Government to go ahead and fire him. And nobody, especially Khurana, thought that it would have any influence on the decision by the UPA to remove governors appointed by the previous BJP government. There is little the BJP can say now, on that count.

What clinched Khurana’s fate is that his staying on suits the Congress best. In January, when Khurana reluctantly came to Jaipur, Delhi’s BJP leaders celebrated. This time round, with Khurana not moving back, the Congress is cheering.

In Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit (who Khurana recently addressed as sister) and Congressmen Kapil Sibal and Jagdish Tytler convinced the party that letting Khurana walk back into the hub of Delhi politics was not a good idea. ‘‘They believe no one can sway voters in the capital like Khurana does,’’ a leader said.

Khurana, too, has always left a window open, not for once saying he had given up active political life. Even as Governor, he hit the headlines more often than CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia did. He has made public statements and carried on with his garibi sunvai kendra despite allegations that he has created two centres of power in the state.

Congressmen in Jaipur believe eventually, the BJP will see to it that Khurana goes. ‘‘How long will the state government put up with the parallel show he is running?’’ said a Congress worker. ‘‘We believe he will eventually go and while he is here, there will be a lot of confusion, which works to our benefit.’’ Khurana, usually accessible, refused to get on the phone after the news came in.