The second lady, Ms Jayalalitha, takes the mickey out of the BJP at any and every opportunity, making the government near dance to her puppeteering skills. Smart lady who smart talks too! The third, Mamata the firebrand, has added her own brand of political fuel to ensure that it is this holy trinity that controls the nation. Why ever not!

MRS Sonia Gandhi has, by sheer dint of sacrifice, earned her position of power. Her husband, Rajiv, and her mother-in-law, Mrs Indira Gandhi, were `Shaheed' to Mother India. No other political family, except the Kennedys, have paid so dear a price. And as every Hinduknows `yagna' or sacrifice brings in its wake its own blessing and power. So power to Mrs Gandhi. Her family's sacrifice can never be in vain.

MS Jayalalitha made a terrific comeback after being virtually written off but her sacrifice of going to jail, where few other politicians have, also brought her the blessing of the people. I don't condone her alleged misrule, but the people, by voting her back, showed they were tired of the witch hunt. So, power to her sacrifice. Why the BJP leadership is being so coy about delivering on pre-election promises? I can only hazard a guess -- but the lady means business. And being a leading lady, her gut instinct would be an orchestrated pull-down of the government giving her centrestage and glory, even if momentarily -- as that's where she loves being if only by habit and virtue of a past profession.

MS Banerjee had the guts and the gumption to form her own party, a virtual impossibility in a Communist state. At such short notice and with little funds, she did theimpossible and pulled a few MPs out of this hat! Magic eh! Power to her too for having the guts to break away from the mighty Congress.

These ladies give grist to the adage `the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world'. Now I wish they would use their combined might to push through the 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures. That way, the sisterhood will guarantee loyalty, honesty and a more attractive, responsible body polity. Exceptions there may be but I can safely add that behind every man -- not just the great ones is a strong woman who's borne him his children and deserves her due. The empowerment of women cannot be left to the men.

These three powerful women can easily bully the boys to push through this landmark legislation. If they do succeed, the world's scrutiny and sanctions will get neatly sidelined. And this particular legislation will mark a historical first for women anywhere in the progressive world. It will inspire Indian women across the nation. Rise ladies of theMotherland, you have nothing to lose but your empty vessels and broken dreams! Now is the time to nation build. JAI MATAJI!