INDIA'S home minister, P. Chidambaram, publicly promised “swift and decisive action” against Pakistan on the very day this year, March 12, that Lahore was rocked by mindless violence. Nary a hint of commiseration was expressed by him.

A mild-mannered man of culture has metamorphosed into a tough-talking, intemperate hawk since taking over the home ministry in the immediate aftermath of 26/11. Home appears to have afforded PC, as he is popularly known, the ideal bully pulpit to further his case for becoming India's prime minister.

Not just Pakistan, but even India's Maoists are bearing the brunt of PC's straight talk. His no-quarter-asked, no-quarter-given approach contrasts dramatically with that of his immediate predecessor, Shivraj Patil, who was often castigated for spending more time coiffing and manicuring himself than minding affairs at home.

Mr Patil's undying loyalty to the Gandhi clan was believed to be key to his survival as minister. When it comes to dynastic fidelity though, PC himself is second to none. After all, did he not ditch the perfidious former premier Narasimha Rao, in whose cabinet he served, to secure for himself the Gandhi family's grateful approval?

Just after 26/11, a yearning arose in India, as it appears to arise after every major spat with Pakistan. A yearning for Indira Gandhi, the iron leader who would teach the recalcitrant neighbour a lesson. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was perceived to be insipid, effete. A failing heart provided further confirmation. PC was hustled into the home department to straighten out the country's internal security apparatus.

Reluctant at first to leave his comfort zone of finance, it must have dawned on him that there was something about his new station that acclaimed men of steel such as Vallabhbhai Patel and L.K. Advani had been drawn to it. From there, they were able to mount significant challenges for the nation's leadership.Lost on him also would not be that the Gandhis would never bestow such a key portfolio to anyone but the implicitly trusted. All he had to do now was to toughen up his softie image of a Harvard-trained financial geek. What better platform to act the part of bully than the pulpit of home, even if threatening action against sovereign nations is considerably outside his ministerial brief?

Dealings with outside powers are after all the traditional domain of the foreign ministry. Around the same time his boss, Manmohan Singh, was hosting peace talks with Pakistan, PC was thumping his chest, being careful enough to leave a mystery, the nature militaristic or otherwise, of his retaliation. Not just Pakistan, but the whole world must be tickled to learn what genie the man who conjured up 'dream budgets' as finance minister has up his sleeve now.

With Manmohan Singh approaching 78 years and in uncertain health, and Rahul Gandhi both reluctant and inexperienced, jockeying for the prime minister's post has begun in India's Congress party. Albeit only covertly, since the Gandhis are never as offended as by the naked display of ambition in others.

Of the main contenders, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's own advanced age of 74 and seeming independence go against him. In any case, he has been denied twice, in 1984 as well as in 2004. Defence Minister A.K. Antony's origins in the small state of Kerala do him no favours. PC, at 64, still has age on his side. Indira Gandhi inducted him into the Congress in 1967, and he has remained a faithful family retainer ever since.

Having barely scraped into the Lok Sabha, India's directly elected parliamentary chamber, in the general elections of 2009 and that too on a recount, he threatens no one with a mass base. Posturing tough, especially against favourite punching bag, Pakistan, allows him to recover from the recent faux pas of Telangana, where he first advocated the creation of the new state, then buckled under pressure. A few more strongman declarations, and he should be well on the way to assuming the Iron Lady's mantle.

sunil_sharan@yahoo.com