Searching for synergy

It is a dream team that many in the Congress are hoping for8212;the 8220;natural alliance8221; between Rahul Gandhi and the Samajwadi Party8217;s Akhilesh Yadav. After taking over as the general secretary in charge of the Youth Congress and NSUI, Rahul8217;s primary proposal was to take to the streets to protest against Chief Minister Mayawati8217;s ban on student-body elections in Uttar Pradesh. He also held preliminary discussions with UP leaders to draw up the agitation blueprint. While Rahul8217;s plan didn8217;t quite take off, the Samajwadi Party heir led from the front, taking to the streets to fight the ban. A couple of young Congress MPs have in the past sounded out Yadav on the 8220;immense possibilities8221; of such an alliance but for 8220;one particular individual8221;. At least with both sides now willing to let bygones be bygones, the partnership is now more plausible than a Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi rapprochement.