By the way

While the Indian political theatre mainly featured a farcical comedy last week, two other interesting developments passed by almost unnoticed. In what was a true example of the word "reinvention" (a word that has been used so frequently this week), the BSP made a major leap with their Brahman Sammelan. No one will make her explain this properly, but Mayawati shows herself to be a player playing a pure game of politics unencumbered by the circumspection of deep ideology.

Then there was also the re-entry of P.A.Sangma into the NCP, with which was complete the whittling away of the founding principles (if you can call it that) of the NCP. Looks like the former speaker (formerly "respected" also) found it too hard to stay out on his own.

Probably the most humorous thing I heard last week about l'affaire Advani was the NDTV "ground report" that had to be interrupted because crackers were going off at his house when all had been sorted out (couldn't Ms. Dutt do her report from elsewhere?) and that Mr. Advani cut a cake in the presence of his family members to celebrate. I wonder what they all sang.

It's all nice for the Congress to be pleased at punch, but all this just proves that these things go about in circles. If the BJP wears the red nose today, not long ago, it was the Congress under the dunce cap.