The power of one

The results of the Neyyattinkara by-poll in Kerala, to be declared on June 15, will be crucial for both the Opposition Left Democratic Front and the ruling United Democratic Front, which has 72 seats in the 140-seat Assembly. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy might well be having sleepless nights, if Governor H R Bhardwaj’s comments at a recent function in Bangalore are anything to go by. According to Bhardwaj (who is also the governor of Karnataka), Chandy had told him, “Please help me, I have a majority of one.” Bhardwaj had to do a Pontius Pilate and say he couldn’t do anything and Chandy would have to help himself.