Novelist Rao does his bit to help Congress

NEW DELHI, Dec 26: Former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao has asked his publisher Penguin India to postpone the release of his novel The Insider from January 15. Rao now wants the book to be released only after the elections. The reason: he does not want to embarrass his party as the 780-page novel has numerous "realistic" and uncomplimentary references to the Congress.

The former prime minister, say sources, does not want to be dragged into a controversy at a time when his party is in a bad shape. He is said to have cited the experience of former President R Venkataraman who was hounded by a section of the Congress party for his references to Rajiv Gandhi in his autobiography. Despite repeated attempts, Rao, however, refused to comment on the delay in the release of his novel.

Rao has also signed a confidentiality agreement with Penguin India to prevent leaks. The floppies of the manuscript are already with the publisher and the novel is expected to be printed soon. David Davidar of Penguin India described the title as their "biggest book of the season". A record print run is being planned . References to the Congress and its leaders — including Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi — are peppered across the book. Sources say they are just "realistic".

The excerpts of the novel, published in a magazine had generated interest not just because it pointed to some hard talk about Rao’s party but a few steamy chapters as well.