Delhi, Ludhiana:
Nine parties-eight chief ministers -- the NDA's unity show Vs UPA's disarray. The cohesion is working, the TRS walked out of the third front into the NDA.
The NDA tried to end whispers that it is set to splinter the Third Front. But the Narendra Modi-Nitish Kumar Kodak moments are just the beginning of the real test.
The NDA may be short of the halfway mark. So, on Sunday, it sent out signals to potential allies Modi, for instance, criticised J Jayalalitha's rival. "Karunanidhi started his fast unto death, which lasted from breakfast to lunch."
But the BJP's team of negotiators was out of sight and on the prowl.
Jaswant Singh is trying to get the AIADMK. Arun Jaitley the BSP and Venkaiah Naidu is wooing the TDP.
But this build up needs one basic ingredient: The BJP has to emerge as the single largest party.