Cong workers seethe within

The Congress8217;s failure to clinch the deal, sources said, reflected the party8217;s inherent inability to make choices and take risks. Just as in the 1980s when the Congress tried to appease both Hindu communalists and Muslim fundamentalists and came a cropper, the party wanted to keep options open with both the SP and the BSP 8212; and is likely to end up alienating both.

Former UPCC chief Salman Khurshid, a known BSP advocate, pleaded ignorance on what went wrong. 8216;8216;I really don8217;t know, I was not really involved in talks with BSP except at the beginning. I was only a catalyst not an intermediary.8217;8217;

Khurshid said he 8216;8216;had no idea8217;8217; if the Congress was trying for a deal with the SP. But as in cricket where the match isn8217;t over till the last ball is bowled, Congressmen believe the deal isn8217;t dead till campaign begins.