Before analysing the incident of legislators beating a policeman and subsequent political turmoil, the role of state’s top leadership needs to be looked into seriously. Congressmen from the state say CM Prithviraj Chavan may emerge as a dark horse to take over the mantle from Dr Manmohan Singh if party vice-president Rahul Gandhi refuses to accept the prime minister’s post. Chavan’s critics may raise questions over his acumen in handling frontline battles of electoral politics. But his seven years in the PMO, unflinching loyalty towards the Gandhi family and his previous roles such as a key negotiator between the UPA and other political parties for evolving consensus on the nuclear deal with the US puts him ahead of others.

But it must be noted that the blue-eyed boy of 10, Janpath did not justify his role during the trial of his leadership as chief minister when a policeman was beaten up by some legislators in Vidhan Bhavan. Being the head the state administration, he should have handled the crisis from the front and avoided most poignant moments at the legislature.