NEW DELHI, Feb. 15 -- This month marks 25 years since I became a Mumbaikar in exile in the national capital. In February 1994, as I was preparing to leave Mumbai for Delhi, a senior professional colleague had a word of caution: "Remember, Delhi is a cutthroat world which we Maharashtrians find difficult to adjust to. Be careful." Maharashtrians in general have been relatively marginal to Delhi's political elite which might partly explain the excitement over the rising speculation of Nitin Gadkari as a potential future prime minister. After all, from YB Chavan to Sharad Pawar, it's been a familiar tale of Dilli Dur Ast, of missed opportunities and setbacks for politicians from the Western Ghats....