As the election season enters its last leg, it’s time to win friends and influence people. Even as different parties’ ally hunters went into overdrive, CPI-M chief Prakash Karat softened his stand towards the Cong. It was for the first time since the bitter parting of ways between the Cong and the Left in July 2008 that Karat showed willingness to even discuss the issue, reports HT Political Bureau.   read more »