On the day Haryana's date with its electorate was announced, CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda's son Deepender's date with his bride-to-be was also on. Almost like the grand political alliances of the past, Haryana's ruling Jat family tied the knot with the reigning Rajasthan Royals, at least in Jat terms.

As she radiantly received a seemingly endless stream of well-wishers, mid-town Delhi buzzed inside a cavernous pandal appropriately air conditioned and heaving with paparazzi, family, food and bandobast. The ring ceremony was performed when Sonia Gandhi arrived.