Will the likes of Karunanidhi agree? Regional parties like the DMK have grown used to the idea of treating the government in New Delhi as a sum of independently run lucrative parking lots. But they still need one of the national parties to get into the parking lot. If both the BJP and the Congress adopt this rule about restoring some dignity back to the concept of prime ministerial prerogative, regional allies won’t be able to play one against the other on this count. And clearly it is in the BJP’s and the Congress’s interest to adopt this rule.

They also have a more specific incentive. Baalu has been a union minister in the United Front, NDA and UPA governments. Indian politics is funny. He may be back again. The BJP and the Congress should get the rule in place before that.

saubhik.chakrabarti@expressindia.com