Seats for AAP? Not even a needlepoint

One of the most dramatic scenes of the Mahabharat is the Bhagavad doot, wherein Krishna goes to the court of Dhritarashtra seeking the forfeited kingdom back for the Pandavas. When that is denied, he seeks five villages for the five brothers. That denied, he seeks one village for all five. No, says the arrogant Duryodhan, not even a needlepoint of land. The road to Kurukshetra began there.

- R. PRASANNAN

A similar drama was enacted lately in the land of Kurukshetra. The Aam Aadmis, much in distress with their leaders in jail, went to their big INDIA brother Congress seeking 10 of Haryana’s 90 seats in the assembly polls. Denied, they reduced the demand to five, then three. Even the needlepoint of one denied, they marched off to Kurukshetra swearing revenge.

The main battle of Haryana is going to be waged between the ruling BJP and a supremely confident Congress, but the Aam Aadmis are determined to stage a side-show that may damage the Congress at least a bit. A minor needlepoint of discomfort for the Congress, but a needless one brought about by the mulish mindset of its warlord-satraps.