Party feud

Party feud

* THIS refers to 'Karnataka syndrome' (IE, July 2). Former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had handpicked Sadananda Gowda as his successor when he was forced to step down from office. Now, Yeddyurappa's camp wants Gowda to resign and Jagadish Shettar installed as CM.

The Gowda government is fighting for survival and a truce between the two factions of the BJP is likely to be shortlived. The senior BJP leadership should take a tough stand and not succumb to blackmail.

— N. Ramamurthy

Chennai

Spirited effort

* PRANAB MUKHERJEE had promised to make major policy announcements on his last day as finance minister. However, all the nation got was a tepid prescription for change. Perhaps this was to be expected. In his role as finance minister, Mukherjee never took on big-ticket reforms. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has now taken charge of finance and spoken of the need to rekindle "animal spirits" in the economy. This was quite uncharacteristic of the usually laconic Singh.

— S. Kamat

Bardez

Politically incorrect

* THE presidential elections should not be reduced to a political fight between the two candidates, Pranab Mukherjee and P.A. Sangma ('Pranab holds office of profit, can't contest Prez polls: Sangma', IE, July 2). Both have been canvassing for votes, but they should keep in mind that support lent to them by various political parties could often come with certain terms and conditions.

— Harischandra Parshuram

Mumbai

Presidential tales

* THIS refers to 'Listening to Kalam' (IE, July 2). In his memoirs, titled Turning Points, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam makes some startling revelations. He claims that after the Lok Sabha polls in 2004, he would have sworn in Sonia Gandhi as prime minister as it was the only "constitutionally tenable" option available to him then — dispelling rumours that he had opposed her becoming PM. It must be said that even without a political background, the former president navigated the perilous waters of government remarkably well and remained true to constitutional principles.

... contd.

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