Feeble response

So Pratibha Patil became the UPA presidential candidate. But what about those who lost out? Soon after her nomination, Patil made it a point to call on all senior Congress Cabinet ministers. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, once a contender in the race, told Patil that he would explain to her the intricacies of the job at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, another contender, acknowledged her as a senior in politics by almost a decade, cleverly laying aside the slurs that he was not competent for the high office. But there was no sweet talk from HRD Minister Arjun Singh.

Singh, whose name had been proposed by the Left for the president8217;s post, mumbled: 8220;Bhai hum kya kar sakte hain, hum to bimaar hain.8221; Clearly, the Congress strongman is still chafing at the CPI8217;s AB Bardhan telling The Indian Express at the Ideas Exchange that Sonia was opposed to Singh8217;s candidature on the ground of his ill health.