One-track seer?

After signing Pratibha Patil8217;s nomination papers for the presidential elections along with wife Rabri Devi, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav not only predicted Patil8217;s victory by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes, but he also had dire words about the future of the NDA and UNPA. 8220;Yeh dono toh sankat mein hain. Dono pe shani savar lagta hai, Both are in trouble, with the planetary influence against them,8221; predicted Lalu. He also said that people were 8220;destined8221; for top posts, and nobody should try change fate8217;s ways.

Bombarded by murky allegations against its presidential candidate, the Congress and UPA leaders admittedly had a sleepless Friday night. They stayed awake most of the night calling each other even as they watched astronaut Sunita Williams landing safely on Earth. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi, under the PM8217;s instruction, made it a point to congratulate Williams and hail her achievements to the presidential-election crazy media. 8220;After watching Sunita8217;s safe landing on earth the whole night, we have drawn a good lesson on how to keep one8217;s nerves cool. We are sure Pratibhaji will also have a safe landing at Rashtrapati Bhavan,8221; a relieved Dasmunsi murmured after the nomination-filing ceremony.