At times Indian politics looks to be a choice between dynasty and disarray. The ruling Congress party has a crude, un-meritocratic but at least decisive method of picking its leader: if you're a Gandhi, then it's you. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (bjp), by contrast, trumpets itself as the "party with a difference" where the best can rise. This week it appeared to be badly split over leadership: the "party of differences", as wags sniggered.The bjp problem is generational. Lai Krishna Advani, 85, had dominated it for much of its existence and is desperately unwilling to give it up. The party became a national force in the late 1980s largely because of his skilful organisation and Hin-dutva (Hindu-nationalist) campaigning. Though too much of a hardliner for voters or coalition allies to accept as prime minister, Mr Advani badly wanted the job.
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