Scrivener's Tale

Baru’s finest hour was perhaps when he gave Dr Singh an image makeover. In 2007, when the PM was going through some of the most difficult moments of his tenure, trying to push an obstinate Left into supporting the Indo-US deal, Baru persuaded him to go public. The result: the PM, in an interview to a Calcutta daily, dared the Left to withdraw support. They did, precipitating a crisis, but it made the PM look muscular. It was Baru again who backed the PM to rope in the Samajwadi Party, whose 39 MPs ensured the UPA government lasts its full course.