Party lines

The Congress’ Samvad Baithak in Surajkund was a step towards opening up a dialogue on policies of the party and the government between ministers and their party colleagues. If the cost-saving bus ride from New Delhi to Surajkund was the first exercise in that direction, it did not augur well for the rest of the meetings. Although ministers mingled freely among themselves, the front seats were occupied by the top functionaries of the government and the party. As a top government official on the bus said, the atmosphere resembled a bunch of school boys on a picnic trip.