India, March 29 -- At a late-night gathering in Delhi last week, the room was dominated by opposition figures. But what caught attention were some people seen as close to the ruling establishment. These individuals were striking a markedly different tone than they do when in public. They were locked in animated, and at times polarized exchanges with opposition politicians, openly questioning India's handling of the fallout from the Iran-U.S. conflict. While some might dismiss this as routine networking, one could sense a strong double game at play, signalling a clear willingness to pivot should the political winds shift.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from The Sunday Guardian....