Bribe Gloom
The former PM's conviction snuffs out his plans to play a larger role in Congress affairs. But though the dissidents have lost a rallying point, they will go ahead with their anti-Sonia campaign.

Big Buys
As India and Russia ink the biggest defence agreement since Independence, the Armed Forces hope to close the gaping holes in preparedness

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Poverty Of Ideas

Kautilya
by Jairam Ramesh
Rao Doesn't Deserve This

Right Angle
by Swapan Dasgupta
It Takes Two To Coalition

Generation Gaffes

Existential Crisis

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NEWSNOTES
CAPLOOKS

Generation Gaffes
Delhi: Politicians are not known to let a few inconvenient facts come in the way of their spinning a good yarn. Recently a colleague was embarrassed as he listened to a senior Indian minister waxing eloquent at a function on his appreciation of German culture and listed Franz Kafka and Sigmund Freud as his favourite authors. When a ministerial aide reminded him that neither Kafka nor Freud were German, the minister simply said, "Don't be literal." A week later in Paris, the journalist realised that the foot-in-the-mouth disease was something that afflicted politicians universally when he heard a senior French politician say that he was a fan of "Indian poet Tagore..." and would love to invite him soon to a seminar.

Existential Crisis
Patna: The proposal by the Bihar Home Department to downsize the ministry in view of the impending bifurcation of the state and the creation of Jharkhand has sent jitters down the spines of members of Rabri Devi's jumbo-sized ministry. Periodically, groups of ministers call on RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav seeking assurances about their jobs. A favourite hobby of several ministers these days is to scour the official list of departments and try to figure out which among them would be shown the door.

Left with Science
Calcutta: The CPI(M) seems to be up against enemies with a scientific bent of mind. Its opponents are always quick to attribute the party's electoral victories to "scientific rigging". Now, Saifuddin Choudhury, the recently expelled former MP, says he will launch a party that will abide by "scientific socialism". And with over 1,000 people dying in the recent floods, Mamata Banerjee has charged the Marxists with resorting to "scientific flooding" by releasing water from the dams to deflect attention from rising political violence in the state.

In Hot Water
Hyderabad: Some time ago Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the Deepam scheme, offering cooking gas connections to the poor. Soon first time lpg users queued up to show their gratitude. But with a hike of Rs 90 per cylinder, the hordes are lining up again, this time presumably with brooms.

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Food Mood
There was plenty of food at the first anniversary bash of Crossroads mall and the shop-within-the-mall Good Food Gallerie in Mumbai last week.
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Looking Glass

Chennai: Exhibition

Bangalore: Electronics Store

Delhi: Gift Store

Delhi: Hotel

Calcutta: Sale

By putting off rolling settlement, SEBI has given punters on Dalal Street a Diwali gift, says INDIA TODAY Associate Editor V. Shankar Aiyar in Au Contraiyar.

The fate of the Kannur project in power-strapped Kerala is in a state of limbo as the Government contends it is too expensive. But is it? INDIA TODAY Principal Correspondent M.G. Radhakrishnan investigates in Despatches.