Mamata and her tryst

It beats me totally as to why Amit Mitra would agree to fight the forthcoming assembly elections as Trinamool Congress candidate against incumbent Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta! Mamata Banerjee is aware of Trinamool's non existent ideology and to make up for the same, she has time and again depended on non-political personalities to gain ground in Bengal.

If we are to depend on the what the grapevine says, then the electorate of Bengal is going to see atleast 25-30 Trinamool candidates who do not have any political base. That translates into more than 10% of the state assembly's strength. From intellectuals to cine stars, from former bureaucrats to corporate honchos, Mamata Banerjee has them all. It is surprising that knowing her irrational and erratic behaviour, such individuals would throw their weight behind her. Is it opportunism at best? It is easy to ride on the wave of success but party workers who have toiled to create public opinion are left out to accommodate intellectuals.

Without total support of Congress I, Trinamool is unlikely to form the next government. If all goes according to calculations, the alliance will get somewhere around 210 seats on the higher side. If I am to depend on the trend as of now, I would peg the figure somewhere between 165 - 180 seats. Now the question is, if Trinamool Congress cannot form the government, then what happens to stalwarts like Amit Mitra? It is unlikely that his breed will linger around the state assembly and sweat it out as opposition MLA. West Bengal state assembly, in the days to come, will have members as good as Dharmendra in the Lok Sabha.

I will not be surprised post Trinamool's victory (if!) that people like Suhel Seth and Sabeer Bhatia might get Rajya Sabha tickets. While coying up to the BJP did not yield a seat for Suhel, Mamata will certainly oblige him to have a prominent television know-it-all face in the Upper House.

It will be interesting to see as to how many of the celebrities actually make it to the state assembly considering that performance of her party MP's in Lok Sabha is much to be desired.

Thank You, Mr. Oberoi

The grand old man of Indian hospitality P. R. S. Oberoi has done it again. He has set a new standard in luxe hospitality with The Oberoi, Gurgaon. (http://www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_gurgaon/index.asp). Spread over 9 acres, this latest piece of art exudes luxury from the word go.

From the adjacent Trident, I was driven tot he new property in a BMW 7 Series. A landscaped road winds its way up to the lobby. The steel and glass structure leaves a breath-taking view of a water body a level below. A short walk across the courtyard takes one to the rooms area. 90% of the rooms have natural light either overlooking water body or landscaped garden. The first thing that strikes you is the corridor. Unlike in most hotels, where corridors are lit by artificial lights, this hotel's corridor is well lit thanks to natural light. Perfectionist that he is, Mr. Oberoi has ensured that every room has a butler at the guest's beck and call. I am told, the butlers have been trained by the same gentleman who trains butlers at Buckingham Palace. Now that should give you some idea of royal treatment. The standard room that I visited was unlike any other 'city' hotel room. The room is spacious with full picture window, a comfortable sitting area, a bureau and a bed. Lo behold, you don't hit yourself against any of the furniture while moving about in the room. A separate area is designated for walk-in closet. The bathroom is again a work of art. Two wash basins, a sunken tub, a shower cubicle and the toilet...you can well imagine the size of the bathroom!

After the stupendous success of threesixtydegree at The Oberoi, Delhi, it is threesixtyone's turn to take you through a gastronomical tour. With seven live counters, a wine cellar, a bar and not to miss the deck outside, this restaurant in one word is romantic. But nothing beats the Sea Food Speciality restaurant that does not have a bill-of-fare but is served what is caught. Crabs, prawns, fish is flown in from coastal areas of India daily.

Did I mention about the high street? Soon after you enter through the main gate you will be welcomed by two see through, steel and glass edifices that are supposed to be Armani and Gucci stores. I have heard even Zegna is going to be present int he hotel. The best thing, a non-resident does not have to go up to the lobby to go to the restaurants or to the shopping arcade. You just get off after the entrance and enjoy the walk through the arcade.

Mr. Oberoi, thank you for bringing such luxury in Delhi NCR.

The Budget

February 28, 2011 was hectic and long. The day started early with the Academy Awards and then the Union Budget. Sadly both missed the shenanigans and hoopla they are generally associated with. Hence when a senior journalist and a close friend had "A journalist's logistics nightmare -- the Union Budget" as his Facebook status, I was taken aback. There was a time, when journalists would comb through the budget and every newspaper worth its salt would come out with different incisive analysis the following morning. These days, more than journalists, it is industrialists, corporate heads, bankers etc., who argue, counter argue and agree in a roundabout manner that the budget is perfect...unless they are willing to earn the wrath of the Finance Minister and the Ministry. With PR machinery in full swing, the following day's paper is likely to have Mr. Tata; Mr. Ambani and all speaking "exclusively" to a newspaper which, somehow is similar to news published in competing newspapers. While all are eloquent with "inclusive growth", "inflation control", "sustainable GDP growth", no one makes the budget analysis simple for the layman. I so miss the good old days, when The Statesman (yes there was a leading, reliable, no-nonsense daily) would host the annual Budget lecture by Nani Palkhivala. And that was analysis. I am sure those who have heard his discourse on Budget and the preamble from C R Irani would know what I am talking about. Let's not even talk about industry leaders, our political leaders are worse. Lalu Prasad Yadav (if my memory serves me right) said that the budget did not have anything for the backward classes! Come on, Mr. Yadav, India's budget can never be complete without "inclusive growth" and someone needs to explain you that. Of-course people have stopped taking the Left parties seriously as they have pessimistic views on everything, even if the country is facing external security threat. So their budget reaction was known to people even before the budget was presented. And then there was the Economist, Cultural Icon, Ad Guru, Strategeist etc etc etc Suhel Seth presenting his high opinion on the budget. Mr. Seth, even Pandit Nehru would not get into the semantics of Union Budget and leave it to experts to decipher. Analysis of India's Union Budget is another great tamasha and for most it is an opportunity to be seen and heard as "thought leader".

The oratory skills and both intended & unintended puns are no longer part of budget speeches. Neither is the wittiness of those present in Parliament. Wit and humour, if not always inherent, is certainly honed. At a recent ceremony in Delhi, a so-called editor in chief and publisher of trade magazines decided to be witty. Apparently people (read Bengalis) who left his organisation and joined a particular trade portal / magazine suffered cardiac attacks. It was not bringing forth his humourous side but his latent apathy towards those who are successful after leaving his unscrupulous fiefdom. But yes, one thing for sure, his manner of speaking is enough to tickle anyone's funny bone just as it is a treat to listen to Venkaiah Naidu speak in English. A good sense of humour always has a personal connotation. The difference, Mr. Publisher cum Editor-In-Chief, is, how it is delivered. A cruel joke can sometimes be the most funny one, provided it is done with panache.

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