Unfortunately for Basu his party wasted the opportunity, for their own reason. Later Basu had opined that the decision of the party was a Himalayan blunder. A poetic justice was awarded to West Bengal 16 years later. This was after the election of Pranab Mukherjee as the 13th President of India. Next three years are very important for Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat in various ways. Brinda Karat seems to be luckier than Karat.

Their marriage helped both of them. Their Sun signs are mutually in the best positions. This is similar to the case of Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi. Brinda shares her birthday with Anil Kumble and Kimi Raikkonan. She shares her Sun Sign with VS Achuthanandan and Virender Sehwag. Brinda was born on October 17, 1947.

All persons born on 8, 17 and 26 of any month have birth number 8. Jyoti Basu and Sourav Ganguly were born on July 8. But out of 8, 17 and 26, the date 17 is the luckiest. The most notable feature is fame.

Muttiah Muralitharan, Mohammed Ali, Michelle Obama and Venus Williams were born on 17th. Apart from the lucky times ahead for Karat and Brinda, the year 2014 (representing 7) is crucial for CPI (M). Since numbers 2 and 7 are mutually lucky, the last party - Congress (the 20th) is also notable. The party was formed in 1964 (representing 2). Thus, the year 2014 is closely related to 1964.

Similar is the case with the 16th Lok Sabha. The CPI (M) will leave no stone unturned to explore the possibility of a serious electoral understanding with the Congress. Because their number one enemy is Mamata. Unless they cross the Mamata hurdle, the CPI (M) will be politically isolated.

In spite of all the public postures, the CPI(M) has always been a real friend in need for the Congress, especially the Nehru family. Let us go back to the 4th Presidential election in 1969. At that time, the Congress Working Committee was more powerful than the Prime Minister. Speaker Neelam Sanjeev Reddy was nominated as the candidate for the post of President. But PM Indira Gandhi did not like that. She roped in V V Giri as a dissident candidate. V V Giri won the election. Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party by the majority of a single vote by the Congress Working Committee. It was the vote cast by KC Abraham Master from Kerala that changed the course of history.

Incidentally, Abraham Master had put up a good effort for a patch-up between Indira Gandhi and the prominent Congress leaders opposed to her. But that went in vain. The Indian National Congress was thus split. Indira Gandhi's government fell short of a majority. It was the CPI (M) that first extended its unconditional support to Indira Gandhi for the continuance of her government.

The year 1969 represents 7. Year 2014 also represents 7. Coming back to Karat, it is seen that, sometimes, the wasted chance in the case of Jyoti Basu will reappear for the former, after the 16th Lok Sabha elections. In that case, Karat can provide solace to the soul of Basu.