The Bhavan nudge

While on Naveen Patnaik, one has to admit the way in which the UPA Government has gone the whole hog in garnering support for its presidential candidate, Pratibha Patil. Not only did it talk to the alliance partners, but it also sounded out other parties.

Patnaik got telephone calls from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting the BJD to put its strength behind Patil rather than the NDA nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Perhaps as a signal of times to come, Patnaik also got a gentle push in Patil8217;s direction from Governor Rameshwar Thakur. Maybe the Congressman still lives on in Thakur.