TMC activists protest the demonetisation drive in front of RBI in Kolkata on Thursday. Pic/PTI

BJP President Amit Shah recently reduced his weight from 116 kg to 91 kg, a remarkable feat that must be applauded. It isn’t because of the stress over the poor execution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation of high-value currency. And it isn’t because Venezuela on Saturday postponed till early January the demonetisation of its 100-bolivar note after two days of pandemonium. Modi’s cheerleaders had cited Venezuela as proof of global endorsement of Modi’s act of financial recklessness, overlooking Venezuela’s hyperinflation as the reason for the Latin American country’s ‘Hail Mary’ demonetisation. (The 100-bolivar was to be replaced by other-denomination currency printed abroad; unlike the Indian rupee.) Venezuela’s postponement has had a deflationary effect — on BJP morale.