Public mood test

Congress strategists who have not let Parliament function till Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended house and replied to their concerns on the note ban issue, said the premier was probably waiting for the bypoll results of eight assembly and four Lok Sabha seats which will be out on Tuesday. These leaders said if the BJP does well, he would use it as an endorsement by the public of his controversial order banning Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The ban has taken most pressing public issues off media glare over the past 12 days as millions stand outside banks and ATMs to pull out their money and exchange old notes.