Amar, Akbar, Anthony

The Congress may be sitting pretty on Raisina Hill, with all the occupants of both south and north block—the prime minister, the foreign, defence, finance and home ministers—all from the party. But this has not diminished the importance of 10, Janpath, behind whose high and fortified walls Congress president Sonia Gandhi resides, or 24, Akbar Road, the headquarters of the Congress in New Delhi.

Indeed, in the immediate aftermath of the changes in the Union council of ministers, the crowds that choked the party headquarters each evening—the Congressman's preferred time to pay calls, do business—were an indication of where the real power lay. If ministers, both newly sworn-in and old, flocked to the party headquarters, so did aspirants for the many party jobs that have just fallen vacant and those that might after seven new governors are appointed.

If the party remains paramount, who is important in the party now, that is, after Sonia Gandhi? Of course, her political secretary Ahmed Patel retains his pre-eminent position, thanks to his total discretion and fund-raising skills. And, if Congress folklore is to be believed, his uncanny ability to influence decisions in the party—and some in government—without either being seen or heard.

But after the departure of Ambika Soni from the party organisation, having just been inducted into the cabinet as minister for tourism and culture, the leader to watch is party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. As the man who managed the stage at the recent Congress plenary at Hyderabad, something that Soni was earlier billed to do, he is the most likely contender for the powerful post of Congress media cell chairperson. The last occupant of that post was Soni.

Indeed, in the days after the reshuffle, all roads literally led to his office at the party headquarters—the power physically shifted from Soni's now vacant rooms in the front half of the party HQ to Dwivedi's spacious three-room-office inside. Apart from party workers, even newly-appointed ministers dropped in to pay their respects. A former Lohiaite, who became close to Sonia Gandhi by writing her Hindi speeches, Dwivedi is the quintessential Brahmin from Uttar Pradesh. A conversation with him is like solving a Sudoku puzzle in mid-air, hoping one has all the numbers in place.

So, if Dwivedi and Patel are Amar and Akbar, is there an Anthony? Yes, there is. Union minister of state without portfolio Oscar Fernandes (earlier, he was in charge of statistics and programme implementation). As pointsman for the Northeast, simultaneously for the party and the government—he was recently in Bangkok for talks with Naga leaders—he is another key Sonia loyalist and also her emissary at large. The man from South Canara in Karnataka is headed for a general secretary's post in the Congress.