Regional parties may call the shots

The latest to throw some light into the long dark Third Front tunnel is Naveen Patnaik, who is as familiar with Left ideology as a priest is with, say, aphrodisiacs. There is bound to be churning in the states where regional parties call the shots.

Chandrababu, Jayalalithaa and Ramadoss can be expected to get together to challenge the national parties��� bid for power. And there could be parties who would be willing to withdraw their opportunistic closeness to the two national parties once the results are out.

The big Indian carnival has only just begun. So, come April-May, don���t stay at home. As the Election Commission advertisements say, ���Every Vote Counts���.