Which of the two Sharads straddling the national political canvas would beleaguered former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa pick to buoy his career and help him emerge as the king-maker again in Karnataka?
The former chief minister has reportedly opened communication channels with both Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav and Union agriculture minister and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar from the time he walked free on bail on November 8.
Both the leaders invited him over to New Delhi for discussions and offered to shield him from legal wrangles in future and facilitate his political resurrection.
A key interlocutor was working their phones to make things easy for the leader and help strike a rapport with Sharad Yadav and Mr Sharad Pawar.
Sources said Yeddyurappa, upset with senior leaders as they ignored him while he was in prison, was certain that he would not be able to stage a comeback after his meeting with party president Nitin Gadkari recently. At the meeting, he was told that everything would depend on completion of trial of various cases against him.
In view of diminishing hopes of a return to power, the leader has reportedly decided to bide his time before making up his mind on a political arrangement with either the JD(U) or NCP.
Sources said the former chief minister would be able to kill three birds with one such stone. First, he would consolidate his hold over north Karnataka as most of his camp followers would follow suit.
For many of these ministers, it would be a home-coming of sorts as they were originally with JD (U) and moved over to the BJP after the death of former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde. Second, he would be able to demonstrate his clout to BJP.
Third, the former CM would also get even with foes in parties like the Congress and Janata Dal (S) for thwarting their return to power.
Finally, his migration-either to the Janata Dal (U) or the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would help these entities expand their political footprint in the south where they do not have much of a presence at present.
The tactical move by Yeddyurappa and his supporters could perhaps have an impact on national politics too during the next general elections which are due in 2014, the sources added.