For a politics tired of geriatric boredom, Sanjay Singh has been a great relief. A doctor by training, and still young, Sanjay has had more twists to his career than any avowed turncoat. And now that he faces somebody of Sonia Gandhi's stature and that too from Amethi, another twist is his way, both is case of victory and defeat.

Related to Congress' biggest non-Gandhi star, VP Singh and in the inner circle of Sanjay Gandhi's favours, Sanjay in the eighties was a playboy in politics, often a little too playful for his own good. As loyalties drifted away from the Gandhis, Sanjay jumped onto the VP bandwagon in the late 80's. Soon after, he found himself in total wilderness thanks to reasons purely non-political. Joining the BJP on his slow return from disrepute, Sanjay has been in the thick of action, though keeping a guarded profile: Defeating Sonia's nominee from Amethi vindicated his presence as also the electorates' splendid unconcern of politicians'private lives.

Back to the present, Sanjay is fighting no nominee this time round, but the nominator herself, the keeper of the Nehru-Gandhi lair. So, what are his chances? Fair enough, if one was to go by the way the family has been treating the once-pampered constituency lately. Bleak, if the families' loyalty is requited.

This brings use to a third possibility for Sanjay: Victory in defeat. Having posted him against Sonia, BJP has certainly reposed great faith in him. Should defeat come his way, his presence in the party would still be stronger than it was a year back.

--Bhawesh K Mishra