Is 2009 going to be a reprise of 1996? Neither the Congress nor the BJP could muster the numbers required to stake a claim for government in 1996. So finally the tail ended up wagging the dog. The Congress gave outside support to the United Front and Deve Gowda, unexpectedly, emerged as prime minister.

With indications that the 2009 general elections could be as inconclusive as 1996’s, several politicians have already started building castles in the air. Mayawati, when asked about her travel plans to New Delhi, did not take the question literally. She declared that she did intend to be ruler of Delhi someday. Lalu Prasad was similarly forthright: “It is no sin to aim to be PM . Even I want to be PM.” Ram Vilas Paswan, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Sharad Pawar have been more direct. Paswan said in a recent interview: “It is time I lead the UPA in Bihar and if given a chance in India.” NCP spokesperson D.P. Tripathi had created a ripple earlier by pointing out that Pawar has the “capacity and credentials” for the top job and it depended on the post-poll political situation. Shekhawat, snubbed by the BJP, speculated that he could throw his hat in the ring if there was a hung verdict, since he has friends in many parties.

With such immodest jostling so early, the Congress spokesperson was quick to point out that the party already had a prime ministerial candidate for the next elections in Manmohan Singh and there is no vacancy. But the

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