It is naive on the part of L.K. Advani if he thinks he is still a leader of some stature in the eyes of the public at large (The Eternal Charioteer, Sep 26). He is very much a spent force politically, whose use-by date expired a long time ago. Opposition parties do not consider him any threat, nor do his party or the Sangh consider him valuable for electoral battles or even rath yatras. He should, therefore, relinquish all political ambition and retire gracefully to a more useful role of consultant to his partymen.

S.P. Karir, on e-mail

Before Advani embarks on his yatra, he should ask Narendra Modi to institute a strong Lokayukta who could probe and take action against corrupt officials and politicians in Gujarat. He should also see that the recommendations of the Lokayukta report in Karnataka are implemented and that the office is given more powers. Without all this, his yatra will be just a farce, nothing more than a political gimmick.

B.S. Chandrashekhara, Sagar

If Advani is this country’s ‘maharathi’, then Modi with his open letters is becoming the country’s ‘mahapatrakar’. Why does he need all this chitthibaazi to say things that he says anyway in his public speeches and interviews?

Mukul Dube, Delhi

‘The eternal charioteer’ or the sanatana sarathi in Sanskrit is used as a metaphor for the atma or the element of divinity within every individual which guides him or her on their spiritual path. Using this lofty philosophical phrase to describe a blatantly political gimmick is a sacrilege. He can be called ‘the compulsive charioteer’ instead.

D.L. Narayan, Visakhapatnam

 
Before Advaniji starts his Yatra, he should ask the CM Modiji to institute a strong Lokayukta in Gujarat who could probe and take action against corrupt politicians and officials. Advaniji should also advise and see that the recommendation of recent Lokayukta report in Karnataka should be implemented immediately and Lokayukta should be given more powers. Modiji as a BJP CM, is opposing the appointment of Lokpal; here Adaniji is preparing for Rathayatra against corruption. It is a contrast and farce and has no moral strength; but looks like a political gimmick.. Can the people be fooled by this? We expect some more honest efforts by the veteran aged Advaniji. /bsc

Trouble now with BJP is that it is jumping the gun, counting their chikens in false anticipation. They are the only political outfit nationally present who could have mounted a strong movement against this totally corrupt anti-people government. Instead they resorted to unconvincing posturings. Against all purvading corruption, runaway inflation , terror , lack of governance ,  collapsing inept external relations, the BJP could not or did not want to mount a credible sustained opposition to create an impact. They even lent a hand in covering up of the cash for vote scam

For all practical purposes BJP is other side of the Congressi coin, hijacked by a bunch of small time operators , busy hatching their own small nests. The two parliamentary leaders looked so much in consonance & in cahoots with the anti-people policies of the ruling regime.. The man on the street do not form opinion on basis of bites on TV  , they know better. An insecure nonagenarian  Advani is a pathetic figure, always has been , more so now. An iron man who lacked iron in the belly. One hopes Mr. Gadkari looses enough Body Mass Index & gains  political gravitas instead. He does not so far seem to be in to the New Delhi closed coterie of political wheeler dealers.

Modi unfortunately reminds one of what he could have been but could not be, do not know how to outgrow  his provincial narrow world vision. If Modi could have given a lucid account of his development vision , display genuine continence for happenings of 2002, or more transparency in governance, India would have been gone along with him. A good conduct certficate from the Americans in today's world is a drag rather than an asset. And Satbhavna need not be drummed up from AC halls. People know it when they see some. Modi is giving too much importance to TV-genic Satbhavna. In any case , through these three days of TV interviews, he exuded more cunning than faith in truth. He also threw his hat in to the ring too early , time enough for his opponents to spoil his party.

It is heading for greater chaos come 2014. Because neither BJP nor Congress wiil have numbers to call the shots. They are going  to be decimated in the hustings, the voters having seen through them well enough. It will be  a terrible Maya, Mamata & Jailalita cat-fight , Nitish waiting in the wings. Hopefully he would do a Deve Gowda act.

"....my prediction is Dr Swamy." - Indian Desi

I would rather have MMS continue than to have Dr. Swamy sitting there. A mute puppet is better than a hyperbole troublemaker.

"The forever-in-waiting-PM announces a yatra.... "

The summary catch should lead one to the conclusion. Advani's chapter is over - he better acknowledge it. Advani ji, it was good having you here - but, it would have been better if you had not been here......

>> "It will be either Dr Subramanian Swamy/Narendra Modi in 2012 "

Heaven help us!

It will be either Dr Subramanian Swamy/Narendra Modi in 2012 as PM, my prediction is Dr Swamy.

Sorry Mr. Advani you stand no chance.

Agree with D L Narayan that this report should have been titled"The Compulsive Charioteer" .

A point to be noted is that sangh strategies are generally difficult to be fathomed. More often an  activity of sangh parivar is unlikely to be a standalone act  decided without prior deliberations.. Generally parivar members are given to a lot of self discipline and follow the party lines. Advanijis Yatra, therefore, is unlikely to be a decision of surprise and discomfiture to the core members of the Parivar.

The Eternal Charioteer (Sanatana Sarathi in Sanskrit) is used as a metaphor for the atman, the Divinity within every individual which guides him/her on the spiritual path. Using this lofty philosophical phrase to describe mundane political gimmicks is highly reprehensible.

This report should have been headlined as "The Compulsive Charioteer" instead.
 

The Eternal Charioteer (Sanatana Sarathi in Sanskrit) is used as a metaphor for the atman, the Divinity within every individual which guides him/her on the spiritual path. Using this lofty philosophical phrase to describe mundane political gimmicks is highly reprehensible.

This report should have been headlined as "The Compulsive Charioteer" instead.
 

Agree with D L Narayan that this report should have been titled"The Compulsive Charioteer" .

A point to be noted is that sangh strategies are generally difficult to be fathomed. More often an  activity of sangh parivar is unlikely to be a standalone act  decided without prior deliberations.. Generally parivar members are given to a lot of self discipline and follow the party lines. Advanijis Yatra, therefore, is unlikely to be a decision of surprise and discomfiture to the core members of the Parivar.

It will be either Dr Subramanian Swamy/Narendra Modi in 2012 as PM, my prediction is Dr Swamy.

Sorry Mr. Advani you stand no chance.

>> "It will be either Dr Subramanian Swamy/Narendra Modi in 2012 "

Heaven help us!

"The forever-in-waiting-PM announces a yatra.... "

The summary catch should lead one to the conclusion. Advani's chapter is over - he better acknowledge it. Advani ji, it was good having you here - but, it would have been better if you had not been here......

"....my prediction is Dr Swamy." - Indian Desi

I would rather have MMS continue than to have Dr. Swamy sitting there. A mute puppet is better than a hyperbole troublemaker.

Trouble now with BJP is that it is jumping the gun, counting their chikens in false anticipation. They are the only political outfit nationally present who could have mounted a strong movement against this totally corrupt anti-people government. Instead they resorted to unconvincing posturings. Against all purvading corruption, runaway inflation , terror , lack of governance ,  collapsing inept external relations, the BJP could not or did not want to mount a credible sustained opposition to create an impact. They even lent a hand in covering up of the cash for vote scam

For all practical purposes BJP is other side of the Congressi coin, hijacked by a bunch of small time operators , busy hatching their own small nests. The two parliamentary leaders looked so much in consonance & in cahoots with the anti-people policies of the ruling regime.. The man on the street do not form opinion on basis of bites on TV  , they know better. An insecure nonagenarian  Advani is a pathetic figure, always has been , more so now. An iron man who lacked iron in the belly. One hopes Mr. Gadkari looses enough Body Mass Index & gains  political gravitas instead. He does not so far seem to be in to the New Delhi closed coterie of political wheeler dealers.

Modi unfortunately reminds one of what he could have been but could not be, do not know how to outgrow  his provincial narrow world vision. If Modi could have given a lucid account of his development vision , display genuine continence for happenings of 2002, or more transparency in governance, India would have been gone along with him. A good conduct certficate from the Americans in today's world is a drag rather than an asset. And Satbhavna need not be drummed up from AC halls. People know it when they see some. Modi is giving too much importance to TV-genic Satbhavna. In any case , through these three days of TV interviews, he exuded more cunning than faith in truth. He also threw his hat in to the ring too early , time enough for his opponents to spoil his party.

It is heading for greater chaos come 2014. Because neither BJP nor Congress wiil have numbers to call the shots. They are going  to be decimated in the hustings, the voters having seen through them well enough. It will be  a terrible Maya, Mamata & Jailalita cat-fight , Nitish waiting in the wings. Hopefully he would do a Deve Gowda act.

 
Before Advaniji starts his Yatra, he should ask the CM Modiji to institute a strong Lokayukta in Gujarat who could probe and take action against corrupt politicians and officials. Advaniji should also advise and see that the recommendation of recent Lokayukta report in Karnataka should be implemented immediately and Lokayukta should be given more powers. Modiji as a BJP CM, is opposing the appointment of Lokpal; here Adaniji is preparing for Rathayatra against corruption. It is a contrast and farce and has no moral strength; but looks like a political gimmick.. Can the people be fooled by this? We expect some more honest efforts by the veteran aged Advaniji. /bsc