After a thumping victory in a mucky presidential election in April, and his party's equally resounding success in last year's parliamentary poll, these excuses have worn out.

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"The game started long before we threw the first throw, " he said, after giving me a "thumping, " to use President Bush's description of his party's election defeat.

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But like India's ruling Congress party, with which it has long-standing friendly ties, the League has a thumping majority and four years until an election.

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