When Advani was made Home Minister at the Centre some saw in him the image of the Iron Man, Sardar Ballavbhai Patel, the first Union Home Minister of the Independent India. Perhaps Sardar Patel would now turn side in his grave after seeing Advani’s flip-flop. May be, ad-man who projected Advani in the image of Sardar Patel would also like to eat back his own words as Advani himself did.

Everybody knew the RSS stalwart Bhandari was sent to Patna as Governor to redeem BJP’s electoral promise to dismiss RJD Government on returning to power at the Centre. And Bhandari made no stone unturned to oblige his bosses at the Centre. He tailored a report accordingly and the Union Cabinet recommended to invoke Article 356 in Bihar but the President did not oblige the Centre. After a lapse of about six months the Cabinet reiterated the same recommendation to the President so that the latter could not this time return it under constitutional obligation to do so. So the Bhandari agenda was fulfilled.

And Advani thought it was time to replace Bhandari by an 'apolitical able administrator' who would deliver the goods in bringing back to rail the hitherto messed-up Bihar administration. So he uttered those words which hurt not only the feelings of Bhandari but also the RSS Big Brothers. Bhandari packed up his bag and baggage and left Patna for Delhi. What happened later that is known to all by now. Advani eats back his words and Bhandari returns to Patna. In the short run Bhandari wins, but in the long run, who?