Usual Suspects

The Congress ticket for Mumbai Northeast is all set to go to Najma Heptullah, while the political editor of Midday, Abhay Mokashi, is standing as an independent. It won't be so easy for the BJP's suave, high-profile and cellphone-carrying bagman, Pramod Mahajan. He will probably be pitted against Gurudas Kamat of the Congress. With the Congress allied to the Republican Party of India, Kamat is said to have more than an even chance. Meanwhile, in the business area of South Mumbai, the business-savvy Murli Deora of the Congress is again pitted against the BJP's Jaywantibehn Mehta. He could turn the tables on her this time. Poor T.N. Seshan, who was also expecting to get a Sena ticket for unspecified services rendered in the past when he was chief election commissioner, but has been left out in the cold. A Sena ticket for him from Amethi?