Author: Coomi Kapoor
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 2, 2009
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/envoy-versus-minister/497016/0
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati invited
the departing governor TV Rajeshwar for a farewell dinner, but the governor
declined. Rajeshwar proffered the rather weak excuse that because of the drought
in the state, as an austerity measure no dinner should be hosted for him.
Actually, Rajeshwar got a hint from Delhi that it would be wiser to decline
Mayawati's invitation, in the light of what happened in Gujarat. Chief Minister
Narendra Modi hosted a farewell party for Gujarat governor Naval Kishore Sharma.
As a courtesy to his host, Sharma, in his speech, included a line or two praising
Modi's skill as an administrator. The state Congress unit took offence to
a favourable mention of Modi and promptly reported Sharma's faux pas back
to the party headquarters.
