1. Atal Behari Vajpayee: Ordered an enquiry while simultaneously exonerating the principal accused! Refuses to put his own house in order, quite literally. Still considered the cleanest man in Indian politics, which of course shows the depths to which it had plummeted. Interestingly, Vajpayee chose to warn the media to exercise restraint in reporting on defence matters! The real threat to this Prime Ministership comes now not from the Congress to the rag tag People's Front but from within. Watch your back 'cause the knives are out.
2. The Tehelka Team: The Tehelka investigators managed to walk in and out of the offices and residences of politicians and officials without too much questioning as to their credentials. This should be particularly galling for one Jaya Jaitley, who was last heard staunchly defending son-in-law-to-be Ajay Jadeja in the wake of another clandestine expose carried out by….Tehelka. Jaitley must feel those guys harbour a personal grudge against her. However, the pertinent point is that then the Tehelka guys had their mugs splashed all over the newspapers and appeared monotonously on television. Their pictures are still placed prominently on the website. So, how is it that they weren't recognised?
3. George Fernandes: Has had to exit, finally. His defence lies in the allegations of the Tehelka tapes being fabricated courtesy computer generated imagery and other visual manipulation. Then why did Laxman and Jaitley resign? Why do Mamata Banerjee, the Shiv Sena and even the RSS take the authenticity if the tapes for granted? Curious, George….
4. National Security: The Government has cried itself hoarse over the possibility of a "foreign hand" trying to destabilise the country through the Tehelka team! Obviously, it does not mean the United States because therein lies the all-important "foreign handout". However, the question that must be asked if that doesn't the presence of suspect middlemen acquiring sensitive information and supplying substandard equipment pose any threat to national security? Os it that just business as usual?
5. Brajesh Mishra: Must completely loathe televisions and cameras of any manner. First, Jain TV went overboard trying to expose him in their pardafash that had everything but evidence. And now come the Tehelka tapes! Mishra is the National Security Advisor and could well be hatching some conspiracy theories that have suddenly cropped up - the ISI/Dawood link, et al.
6. Television Channels: Jain TV was exultant, each bulletin was focused on Brajesh Mishra with his mug cleverly placed to the word "Expose". Zee TV got exclusive rights to first airing the tapes and is now shopping for a stake in Tehelka. The rest managed to increase their sagging TRourtesy this soap opera.
7. Jaswant Singh: The man best known for operating escort services to Kandahar, must be pretty pleased. After all, he hasn't been named by anyone on the tapes, not even referred to. Also, he has also managed to get the Defence portfolio becoming the most powerful Minister in this Cabinet.
8. The Opposition: Wants the Government to resign. Probably believes that the resultant vacuum can be filled by the hot air it has been exuding over the last few days.
9. The Indian Cricket Team: Is no longer the single most important cause of national dejection, is no longer considered the single most corrupt body in India, is no longer the target of Tehelka. Thing are definitely looking up.
10. The Amounts Involved: Indians politicians have been thoroughly embarrassed by the Tehelka tapes and not quite for the reasons you'd expect. Basically, the likes of Bangaru Laxman and Jaya Jaitley have drastically brought down their collective reputation. Just a lakh or two? That's peanuts! Politicians can be heard grumbling that in the future, dealers of any nature, will start quibbling over every lakh and refuse to pay up the crores the politicos are used to for their troubles.

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