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New Delhi:
A sumptuous menu awaited guests at the dinner hosted by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to mark third anniversary of United
Progressive Alliance-II (UPA-II) government even as key outside
supporters including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad were
given pride of place on the main dais along with leaders of
parties constituting the ruling alliance.
The move, significant in view of the impending presidential polls,
did earn Congress some goodwill.
"We support the government. They have honoured us, it is a good
thing," Mulayam Singh told IANS after the dinner.
His Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal are
outside supporters of UPA. Though Bahujan Samaj Party chief
Mayawati was also invited for the dinner, she did not come.
MulayaM Singh and Lalu Prasad were seated with Congress president
Sonia Gandhi at the dinner table, which also had key ally leaders
including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, DMK
leader T.R. Baalu, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy and
Congress MP Karan Singh.
Gandhi's son and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was
seated next to her at the dinning table.
At a nearby dinner table were Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit
Singh, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Defence
Minister A. K. Antony.
The evening was marked by informal interaction by ministers and
senior leaders with mediapersons.
The prime minister treated his guests to a lavish menu that
included recipes from different parts of the country.
For vegetarians, there was "dhania paneer korma", "kadhai paneer",
"baghare baingan", "kathal masala", "avial", "drumstick sambhar",
"beans gajar matar", "teh biryani", and "keoti dal".
The non-vegetarian spread included "jhinga Kasundi", "gosht burrah
kabab", "fish malabari", "chicken chettinad", and "dum aloo
Kashmiri."
While the deserts included fresh fruits, assorted "kulfi",
"coconut payasam", "hot jalebi" and "pardah rabri", those looking
for snacks had option of "gol gappa", "pao bhajji", "aloo tikki"
and "chat-papadi."
Many Congress MPs came forward to greet the Congress president and
prime minister.
Among Congress MPs present was Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who resigned
as a party spokesperson last month over a controversy surrounding
a CD.
Lok Janshakti Party president Ramvilas Paswan was also present.
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