Suicidal tendencies manifested themselves also in the BJP’s inexplicable opposition to the nuclear deal with the United States. Instead of taking pride in the fact that it was their government that laid the ground for the deal, the BJP’s old men decided to support the Marxists in their attempts to bring the government down over the deal.

The Marxists have made it clear that their real problem with the deal is that it will bring India closer to the United States in more ways than one. What possible reason could the BJP have to object to this? Or to a deal that is so beneficial to India that the loudest opposition to it has come from our two old foes China and Pakistan?

So the time has come for the BJP to consider reincarnation. Just as the Jana Sangh died to reincarnate itself as the Bharatiya Janata Party, it is time for the BJP to die and seek rebirth. If recent polls are to be believed it has plenty of time. Not a single poll gives them the smallest chance of winning in the next general election or even leading a coalition government.

If elections take place next summer as most pundits think they will this gives the party till 2013 to come back in a new incarnation. Meanwhile, RIP.