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Journalism of Courage
Once upon a time, only five years ago, Sharad Pawar, Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar got themselves expelled from the Congress party. Having suddenly cast themselves in the role of Rebel, the Foreign Origins of Sonia Gandhi passed for a Cause. Coincidentally, all of this happened on poll-eve. In the elections that followed, the acrimony between Pawar8217;s Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress was there for all to see 8212; it was far greater, certainly, than their shared opposition to the BJP-Shiv Sena. A fuzzy verdict later, the two agreed to bury their hatchet, to share power in Maharashtra. Now, as the NCP and the Congress gravitate towards each other again 8212; for a pre poll alliance this time because their opposition to the BJP, they say, is greater than their opposition to each other 8212; it8217;s time to marvel again at how political events always race ahead of the political imagination.
Time to wonder also at all the ends that will be left hanging in the NCP-Congress tie-up to be. None of them have to do with policy or programme, of course, because the split in the Congress never had anything to do with either. No, the spotlight in the still unfolding Congress-NCP saga is destined to rest squarely on personalities. On
As the breakdown of negotiations between Sharad Pawar and the NDA underlines, it8217;s about getting the best deal in votes and seats. And there8217;s no time to be wasted on the possibilities that couldn8217;t be. Like an alternative Congress, from within the Congress. Or like a politician who may have used his brand image 8212; and this goes for Pawar as well as Sangma 8212; to make a genuinely political point.
