The rising star of the east

In the Congress, Ms Dev enjoyed the indulgence of the Gandhi family

Alliance politics is tricky business. How do you keep the interests of your own party, which is almost inevitably the one to be most hurt by an alliance partner, intact? The national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress alike, are facing the challenge in varying degrees. Alliances help to prevent division of votes. But they can also limit — to the point of stagnation and, eventually, death — the growth and development of your own party.

Assam Congress leader Sushmita Dev’s recent decision to quit the Congress and join the Trinamool Congress illustrates the dile­m­ma. The writing has