Now, Congress sources say, Amitabh is trying to tap daughter Shweta's in-laws, the Nandas—known to be Congress supporters and close to Romi Chopra, a friend of the Gandhi family. They are also trying to tap a former editor known to be friendly with the family, but it is not clear if any contact has been made yet. Given the sensitivities involved, everyone is very tight-lipped on the issue.
Socialite and estranged wife of Ajitabh Bachchan, Ramola—who now lives in Delhi and has always enjoyed a good equation with Amitabh (reportedly, Amitabh introduced Ramola to Ajitabh), and who is the only member of the Bachchan clan to have cordial relations with Sonia Gandhi—has also been tapped to play peacemaker, say sources. Ramola Bachchan, when contacted, refused to speak about it, merely saying, "I don't want to speak to the press." Congress sources say that thus far these efforts have not met with much success. Of course, in the past, when the two families were on good terms, it was Jaya, more than Ramola, who was friendly with Sonia, Congress sources say.
Meanwhile, across the river Yamuna in UP, the SP is making its best efforts to retain Amitabh as the party mascot. In Noida, huge hoardings set up overnight by the Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd in which Amitabh—dressed in a white kurta and pashmina shawl—exhorts people not to "steal electricity" have sprung up:"Chuka kar jalayen, bachakar jalayen, bijli ki keemat sabhi ko batayen." At this point, predictions are difficult. Will the man pay his dues—and obeisance—to the old patron? Or stay trapped as an SP mascot, a symbol of stolen thunder?
