Lose weight the Cong way

Varun Singh overhears some juicy tidbits from newly-elected Congress MLAs gathered at the Vidhan Bhavan on Saturday evening to choose the new CM of Maharashtra, including some insightful dope on burning calories

Varun Singh overhears some juicy tidbits from newly-elected Congress MLAs gathered at the Vidhan Bhavan on Saturday evening to choose the new CM of Maharashtra, including some insightful dope on burning calories

While one jubilant Congress MLA revealed how he became six kgs lighter after campaigning, another mentioned how 'P' was the alphabet of the moment and yet another why he stopped reading newspapers once he began campaigning for the Assembly polls. MiD DAY brings you some of the juiciest moments.

Political humsafars

One just had to stand at the Vidhan Bhavan gate to make out who was in which camp. Five to six politicians would come out of cars meant for four.u00a0The fellow-travellers were invariably known to stick together politically.

Needless to say, supporters of four main contenders for the post of CM from the state former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, Narayan Rane, senior leader Patangrao Kadam and CM Ashok Chavan were predictably seen together.

While Deshmukh was seen once talking to Kadam, he was also seen chatting with known rival Rane, much to the surprise of all present.

The leaders entered Vidhan Bhavan together along with the 82 Congress MLAs to attend the meeting where Union Minister A K Antony and senior Congress leaders Digvijay Singh and Rehman Khan were also present.

How much did you lose, buddy? MNS MLA Shishir Shinde hugs Congress MLA Ashok Jadhav at the Vidhan Bhavan on Saturday.

Charbi kum

An MLA from Aurangabad was heard saying that he lost nearly six kilos as he was campaigning. "This is the benefit of being in the city, where you have to climb four storeys to reach your voters during a campaign.
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In villages, you travel by car and the whole village gathers at one place to listen to your speech," said the leader.

Most politicians admitted on conditions of anonymity that they had stopped reading newspapers once they began campaigning.
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The negative publicity made them feel low and affected their campaigning, and after the last vote was cast, niggling reports did not affect the political outcome. So, there was no reason to read newspapers.

P matlab...

One particularly happy senior North Indian Congress leader launched forth on the all important relevance of the alphabet P.

"P for press is present here. The P for politicians and P for police are working in sync, and P for public need not worry.

They should all 'P daru' to drink to our success," said the ebullient leader.

Incidentally, the meetings of the MLAs took place in the same room were the MLAS had met earlier in December 2008 to appoint Ashok Chavan to the post of the CM.

Congress meeting mein MNS?

Strangely, Shishir Shinde, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) u00a0MLA from Bhandup, was also spotted coming out of the Vidhan Bhavan on Saturday, raising many eyebrows. Congress leaders, however, dismissed speculation over the MNS getting involved with their party.