India is among the most poll-struck and poll-ridden democracies in the world. Polls after five years, mid-term polls, early polls, late polls, they provide the grist of life for poll seekers, poll mongers, pollsters, poll riggers and poll campaigners. And mind you, all these and many other such vocations have already acquired the status of specialised jobs and professions. These also include specialists in poll violence and after the poll petition experts who challenge the elections of those who win, on behalf of those who lose. Now is the time for the poll pundits and poll dreamers. Wherever you go, one question is asked: Which party will win in the forthcoming State polls in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand? And all kinds of ifs and buts in the poll pundit's theories of forecast and aftermath have interesting inferences. Some point out that if the Congress wins in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh and at least one of the two States—Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, it may lead to slow motion movement towards the next Lok Sabha polls in the country—which would be the prime test of power between the ruling NDA coalition led by the BJP and opposition, not so well united but with the Indian National Congress as the largest party and threat to BJP. There are other pundits who forecast that if the BJP can oust the Congress from Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and may be Jharkhand or Chhattisgarh, then it would be a signal for early Lok Sabha polls as the NDA constituents would start rushing for an early poll. The BJP defeats could result in the ambitious constituents deserting the NDA, imagining that it was a "sinking ship". Everybody knows who deserts a ship first when it is considered to be sinking. The media pollsters have yet to jump into the confusion street with their highly loaded and unloaded soothsaying, depending upon which is their most favourite and most hated party. Strange are the fortunes of polls.

In the recent Union cabinet reshuffle, the youngest and the only Muslim minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet has been moved from the Civil Aviation Ministry to the Textile Ministry. Was it a punishment or a reward? It was hard to decide even by his opponents within and outside the BJP, but some remarks by media men and minister Syed Shah Nawaz Hussain, indicated that he retained both his cool and sense of humour. One media person wanted to know if the Minister for Civil Aviation, ever up in the sky, had now firmly landed on the ground. The Minister gave a firm smile which meant perhaps that it was a happy landing so far as he was concerned.

Former Union Minister, an old colleague of Rajiv Gandhi and the former Governor of Punjab, among many other things, Congress leader Arjun Singh became emotional while making a speech on the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. His admirers could literally see tears of sorrow trickling down his cheeks. But somehow no Congressman cared to cry over Arjun's tears. Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not impressed, they say, and also none of the old guard among the All India Congress Committee members. Some of them recalled with certain vicious pleasure the incident of 1985 when on Rajiv Gandhi's call, Arjun Singh claimed to have resigned from the Union Cabinet in minutes, before being moved to Punjab as Governor. They whisper that it was Buta Singh and Co who showed him some documents, which spelt serious trouble for Arjun if he did not resign and accept the gubernatorial appointment for self-protection against troublesome investigations by government agencies.

Sensing the shadow of the polls to come, Bala Saheb Thackeray, is said to be carefully screening his soldiers and commanders in the Shiv Sena to make sure that they do not indulge in defiance against "Bala Saheb Rule" and do not indulge in misadventure to break the BJP. No sympathy for the "Vibhishans" was said to be his message to the sainiks. The word going around in Sena circles was "Do not pursue the wrong path set by Suresh Prabhu. Follow the right path pursued by Anant Geetha". And those who seek to take advantage of the poll time chinks in the NDA armour, beware, Bala Saheb is watching you. As far as the correct path for the alliance breakers and political adventurers is concerned, perhaps Andhra Chief Minister "Babu" Naidu of the Telugu Desam, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, AIDMK's Jayalalitha "Amma" and U. P.'s BSP Chief Minister Maya "Bahen ji" have also shown the correct path. Maintain your party, maintain power and don't send ministers to sit in New Delhi as they are exposed to intrigue and grief. Look at what happened to the DMK Minister of State for Finance?

There has been hair raising at attempts to project BJP President Venkiah Naidu's 25 year in politics. The 'seniors' thought it was an attempt to introduce a war of the generations within the party. One of them asked "where was he 25 year ago?" Another posed the question: "How can his achievements and services to the BJP be greater than services of the stalwarts who built the ideology and structure of the Bharatiya Janata Party, step by step and brick by brick, over many years?" And asked a faithful of the party: Vajpayee Ji is 79, Advani Ji is 74, Bal Thackeray is 75. Is Venkiah Naidu a greater leader than they? But the Naidu faithful point out: "He represents the fresh blood and the rejuvenation of the BJP. Tomorrow is theirs". Only the BJP-baiters and the Opposition parties are smiling with smug smirkiness at this pointless bickering match.