GANGTOK-No Easy Course

December 21, 1968 There is a certain logic in this sort of thinking, because the belief is now firm that the Congress party is in a position to provide the political management so essential for undertaking a kind of Japanese path of development The total collapse of opposition parties, and the ideological can- fusions of the communists and socialists, makes the Congress Patty the sole operating lever. A sad fact, but one has to live with such facts despite the adventures of the Naxists and others who cerate on more or less the same wavelength- Political management is, of course, being transformed into a strange art in the hands of the Congress High Command. If the decision is to deny tickets on principle to rebels and defectors, political management dictates that their wives be mobilised in their place. This unique contribution to political practice is an offering from Uttar Pradesh and holds many interesting possibilities. Indeed, we are wondering what Bihar's faction leaders, THE one-week visit, starting from December 1, of Sikkim's Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal to the Indian capital is going to be far more crucial for both India and Sikkim than is generally suspected.* The Chogyal will be accompanied by Gyalmo Hope and a couple of young officials. Significantly, for the first time, the Chogyal and his Gyalmo will be put up at Rashtrapati Bhavan. And, besides meeting the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the Chogyal will also have meetings with Union Home Minister Chavan, Defence Minister Swaran Singh, and the Ministers for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, It is not only the Indian side which, as the formalities suggest, seems to be taking this visit seriously. Flood relief, authoritative sources in Gangtok maintain, is only part of the purpose of the Chogyal's visit. As a protecto- This despatch, written before the Chogyal's visit to New Delhi, was delayed in transmission.