•This refers to your editorial, ‘Single-party coalitions,’ and Coomi Kapoor’s article, ‘The great Indian number theory’. It is true that ever since her splendid victory in UP, Mayawati has been gaining more and more political grounds at the national level if the success of her recent ‘campaign’ is any indication. Her strategy to patent a new formula of social inclusivity has worked remarkably well, much to the discomfiture of the Congress. The BJP too seems worried at the expanding base of the BSP.

As for the Congress’s dilemma, Kapoor has rightly said that “what it gains on the roundabouts it could lose on swings”. But then Mayawati is taking advantage of the failure of the two major national parties to deliver, giving her ample political opportunities, of which she is making very good use. However, I don’t consider it enough for Mayawati to make it to the seat of power at the Centre.

— S.K. Gupta

Delhi

Farming vote

• The concessions in the Union budget make it very obvious that elections are round the corner. Suffocated all the time by the Left, the Congress wishes to break loose, and breathe free, with the hope that the budget largesse will earn it a cornucopia of votes. But then most politicians forget the fact that the voters have grown wiser over the years. There is no guarantee at all that generosity shown by the ruling party will translate into votes. This has been the bitter experience of many political parties in the states.

... contd.