A week of political uncertainty has finally come to a close, and while we wait for the next drama to emerge over hurt egos or some other trifle, it would do us well to note the price the state pays while these petty political skirmishes play themselves out.

The current political atmosphere in our state is such that the Congress and NCP can afford to play games of political one-upmanship with each other – only because there is no great threat from their opponents, the BJP or Shiv Sena, who are the principal parties in the Opposition.