The Sharad Pawar flirtation with the Third Front has had its comical side. MrPawar was visually absent but vocally present in Bhubaneswar. A mobile was heldto the face of the mike and Mr Pawar spoke his piece from Pune or wherever hewas. The line got disconnected many times which itself is a nice metaphor forthe NCP leader’s erratic links with Messrs Karat, Patnaik, Bardhan and Raja.In an election season where comedy has been in short supply, Mr Pawar’slong-distance alliance with the Third Front came as a welcome relief.