The underworld trade in contraband, narcotics and gold has produced a crop of kingpins. They have a culture of their own which places its loyalties solely on pecuniary considerations. Bombay's large mercantile class, known for its civility, has been forced to live uncomfortably with a growing quasi-military extremist group, the Shiv Sena, that strives to establish Hindutva, a land for the Hindus alone. Presiding over these and many other strange bedfellows is the badly fractured ruling Congress Party. Each faction within it will go to any length to capture power, the latest example being the overthrow of the Naik group by Sharad Pawar.
Some political parties do well under conditions of peace and others make gains in turmoil.
For almost three decades, the Congress Party ruled over the country with no real political challenge. Ultimately, what was latent underneath had to surface. The shadows over post-Nehru India, it seems, have substance. A vigorous and committed leadership is needed in New Delhi to do the job. Narasimha Rao may not be the answer.