India, July 19 -- Did madness overcome method in her political style in recent years?

As I observe the eclipse of Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand politician of yore, who entered the annals of history for having successfully dismantled the 34-year-old Left bastion in West Bengal, I am reminded of two incidents centring around Pranab Mukherjee during his years as a Congress leader, prior to becoming President of India.

Three decades back, in 1996, when Mamata was in Congress, I once commented on her eccentric ways to Pranab Babu. He smiled and said, "There is a method in her madness. Wait and see. If someday anyone can defeat Left Front, it will be her, no one else." Indeed, 15 years later, in 2011, the prophecy of the "Chanakya" of our ti...