TV lessons

Not all state leaders, of course, understand press conferences as well as Ms Banerjee. In Karnataka, during the political drama surrounding the resignation of ministers in the BJP government to pressure Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to make way for someone chosen by the former chief minister, B S Yeddyurappa, TV news channels were besieging the latter’s house, sending live “breaking news” back to the studios. A minister coming out of the house was asked the reason he quit — but he didn’t seem sure what he should say, although he’d taken such a big step. After a few seconds of some vague answer, he realised he could have said something more convincing — and so he said, firmly, “Cut, and take again.” He didn’t realise it was a live feed.