New Delhi: After keeping away from the
ceremony to pay last respects to Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu,
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today chose to
maintain distance from CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat at an
Election Commission function here.
Banerjee, who was given a seat in the front row reserved
for leaders of various political parties, preferred to sit far
away from Karat despite being alloted a place near him.
At the function to mark EC's Diamond Jubilee, AIADMK
supremo J Jayalithaa, who generally keeps away from Delhi,
participated and it was one of the rare functions in recent
years in which she and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were
present.
Sports Minister M S Gill, a former Chief Election
Commissioner, was seen interacting with Pakistan High
Commissioner Shahid Malik.
Details of their interaction was not known, but it comes
in the backdrop of the controversy over the participation of
Pakistani players in the IPL.
All former CECs were seated together in a row.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 25, 2010, 20:56