Big Brother is no more the elder. This paradox is particularly true about the ‘First Family’, or first parivar of India’s political theatre. To gain a deeper understanding, specifics are required.

At 9.30 am on March 19, 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister by President K R Narayanan along with 21 Cabinet ministers and another lot of the same numbers as ministers of state.

The previous night, he sat down for dinner at home only after concluding a marathon session with Lal Krishna Advani, during which they drew up the list of those who would take oath as Cabinet and state ministers. Advani left for his home only after the list was sent to the President of India.

For hours, closeted in a room, the two scrawled names, struck some out after consultations, overwrote othe

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