As Pranab Mukherjee closes in on that magic halfway mark that will see him home, there is news that he has been helped by cross-voting in Karnataka. That BJP-ruled state has given Pranab Mukherjee 117  votes and Mr Sangma only 103 - that is 53 per cent in Mr Mukherjee's favour. Three votes were declared invalid.

Jagadish Shettar, brand new chief minister, will have to answer some tough questions very soon.