But after the defeat of Rajiv’s Congress in 1989 and the rise of V P Singh with the support of the BJP, it was Pramod’s turn to be condescending to his friends in the press. He was at his eloquent best during the 1990 Rath Yatra. He was at his shrillest when the Babri Masjid was destroyed. It was after 1992 that he began to develop the streak of arrogance, which reached its peak in 1996, when he became a defence minister in the 13-day government of the BJP. That government was to fall anyway, but Pramod knew now nobody would question the possibility of the party coming to power. In 1998 and again in 1999, the BJP won. The Congress began to look pathetic and out of sync.

Between 1999 and 2004, all of us have seen Pramod on every single TV channel, arguing and fighting with anchorpersons. His fast track rise in the party had upset even the old guard in the Parivar. They looked at him as an upstart. What was his contribution to Hindutva? Was he not hobnobbing with the stars and starlets, with business houses and builder-contractors? How could he be the “proper” representative of the Sangh? Most of Pramod’s rivals are in his own party. He has admirers in the Congress.

I met Pravin when Pramod had already reached the zenith of his career. To be defence minister, even if it was for 13 days, was a huge achievement, and Pravin, the youngest brother, was basking in his brother’s glory. We used to meet fairly frequently. His voracious reading, agile memory and the ability to analyse political events impressed me. He struck me a wonderful conversationalist.

... contd.