Crown of thorns

Sir — The voters in Karnataka have given the Congress a clear mandate to rule the State for five years.

But the party may forget its winning plank of stability and good governance and quickly slip into bickering and infighting.  Although the leaders harbouring a desire to become the Chief Minister swear by the common refrain that they will abide by the decision of the party high command, they all indulge in lobbying, blackmailing and arm-twisting to get the coveted post. 

The loser will plot to extract his pound of flesh sooner or later. The reasons for the downfall of the BJP in the State are a lesson the Congress will do well 

to remember.