SIDELIGHTS

Ratan Tata keeps his date

Industry doyen Ratan Tata arrived silently and took a seat in the rear benches. He was later spotted by BJP leader SS Ahluwalia who brought him to the benches in front seating him with Asim Dasgupta, former FM of Bengal.

Sinha, Shatrughan arrive together

Former FM Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha arrived together and were seen exchanging pleasantries with Amar Singh and later Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Pawar, Shah’s cold handshake

The ideological divide between NCP chief Sharad Pawar and BJP chief Amit Shah was all too visible when the two had a cold handshake and did not exchange a word despite being seated together in the front row. The chill was to only grow a while later with BJP veteran LK Advani occupying the seat between the two. None of the three spoke to one another.

Motley gathering

The gathering had people from all walks of life, from industry giants like Ratan Tata to RSS sympathiser S Gurumurthy, FMs of J&K and Tamil Nadu, and a host of bureaucrats, including all secretaries to government. Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra was among the most greeted guests.

In attendance

SP, BSP, NCP, Kerala Congress, YSR Congress, BJD, TRS, AIADMK

Stayed away

Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, JD-U, Left leaders and MPs barring two leaders — former FMs of Bengal and Kerala Asim 

Dasgupta and KM Mani who were heads of GST committees