Capt Kumarji,
No argument <!--emo&:argue--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /><!--endemo--> - we are on same page, reading it from different ends.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->For Rahul to be PM, Cong should be in position to call shots which is doubtful.
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Yes. Agree 400%. Between now and LS elections next year or 2009, it's eternity and anything can happen. <b>My entire argument is based on the assumption that Congress will form next govt.</b> And
it's an assumption only and not an endorsement or my wish. When we discuss future hypothetical scenarios, we have to look at different possiblilites and Congress forming a govt is a possiblity that cannot be ruled out.
I'll post separately on this after I've responded to your post.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->RE: Nehru vs. Patel:
Patel was best in his role as Home Minister and he might have been wasted in role of PM. As ill luck would have it, he, also, did not live long enough after Independence.
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If Patel was PM, Pakistan-POK-COK problem would not have been there. Same with vote bank culture and dynasty rule. There's a thread somewhere on IF archives about this 'what-if' scenario, I think Outlook carried main article.
Can be dug up. But it's the past.
It's true that he did not live long enough, but those who agreed to NOT make him the PM back in late 46/early 47 did not know that. And favoritism and appeasment triumphed merit. After about 60 years how far has the congress culture progressed from there? If they have, is Rahul the best person to represent Congress? Why else did they pick him?
Mind you I called Rahul's name a full week ahead him taking over command of Congress party, based solely on Congress culture.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->RE: Indira Gandhi
Being host to PM Nehru, she had the longest internship.
I don't know as to how old u r but I have seen the amount of opposition she faced when she became PM and it was her incisiveness which kept her in job.
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Read Kuldip Nayar's 'Scoop - from Partition to Present' and it has some interesting chapters as to how IG was written off in early ears. If I'm not mistaken, she was referred to as '<i>goongi gudiya</i>' (deaf/dumb doll) by the very Congressmen who later found that their political survival lay in hitching with Gandhi name, clout and wealth.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Moreover, in the interim of Nehru and Indira, v had a full fledged successful PM in Lal Bahadur.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
True. And Gulzarilal Nanada too. Twice I might add.
While Shastri unfortunately died early, Manmohan will just be eased out, I really don't see him as second term PM of Cong govt.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> am glad that you have brought out Rajiv's name which only strengethens the axiom that experience is the key as he was lame duck PM after the Bofor issue and that was right in middle of his 5yrs.
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Agree with you here too. And probabily majority of the country thinks same too. Unfortunately, it'll be the Congress high command who'll call the shot. And guess who the high command is?
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Thanx Viren.