One hates to agree with the Congress but it was spot on that the Goa conclave of the BJP was much like a saas-bahu soap frothing away torturously. At an age when L. K. Advani (right, the saas) should be handing over the running of the home (the BJP) to Narendra Modi (bahu; difficult to imagine but try) and others the former wants to hang on with hopes of becoming the Prime Minister if the BJP-lead team does manage to unseat the Congress coalition.

Like the petulant saas not getting her way, Advani cried away from the Goa conclave and now has resigned from all party posts. Unlike the serial bahu, Modi did not shed any tears and is back in Gujarat’s to a victor’s welcome.

No doubt with age a person often becomes so myopic that he is able to focus on just one thing — himself. But sometimes it is good to see the larger reality. Veteran Advani must realise that that at some point he will have to let go. And do so gracefully at 86.

The party is betting on Modi. Can’t fault that. Besides his track record in Gujarat over the last decade, the rank-and-file sees in him the messiah. ‘Not to forget that he can get votes and has the money too. In reality, the party doesn’t have anybody better. And, in a clever move, the party has made Modi just the poll campaign chief and not named him the Prime Ministerial candidate. So, theoretically at least, it can change horses.

By resigning, and bringing the internal bickering into the open, Advani is not helping the party’s cause. Certainly, it is not going to light up the NDA’s welcome signage. If the house of the coalition leader is spilt, it is sure to send the wrong signals to the partners. Not at all good tidings for the NDA. Remember how the key allies quit the BJP-led NDA in 2004.

The saas may have done much to build the house and bring it some gravitas. She can’t bar the bahu.

If the NDA skids on this soapy tussle, might as well resign to UPA-3.

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