my package confusion in edgy (python)

[john e]

I some how got _both_ python2.4 & python2.4-minimal selected for
install. Don't ask how... but I seem to have special powers in this
realm.

The problem is they are both mutually exclusive, and I couldn't get
one to bow out for the other.. no mater what I did.

I eventually did a:
>apt-get remove python 2.4

Time for a reinstall. I was left with a unix system from 1976.

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My quesion is this: if I find myself in a similar situation... how can
I get rid of one (presumably in favor of the other) with-out removing
all packages that depend on (A or B)?