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Raje's Holi `gift' to CPI(M) leader

Special Correspondent

Other recipients include Sate Congress chief and Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is surely expanding her friends' circle. This time during Holi she has included the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also in her mailing list for greetings and festival gift.

The comrades at the Mazdoor Kisan Bhawan, the State headquarters of the CPI (M), were surprised the other day when they received a packet from a courier agency. The packet was addressed to Vasudev, the State Secretary of the party. The elegant pack with sun insignia painted on its lid contained a bottle and four packets of scented "gulal" from "Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje".

"I myself was surprised. I checked the address to see whether it was for our party MLA, Amra Ram. But I found my name and the correct address of this newly- built office," Prof.Vasudev observed. He recollected seeing a similar packet the previous Holi when B- 4 MLA Quarters, the official residence of the party MLA doubled as party office as well.

Ever since she assumed the office of the Chief Minister here, it has been a practice for Ms.Raje to send sweets during Diwali and colours and "tandai" during Holi to members of the Assembly and selected persons in the media, bureaucracy and public life.

This year too even after declaring that she would not be playing Holi to pay homage to those killed in bomb blasts in Varanasi on March 7, Ms. Raje chose to continue the practice.

"Life comes in a myriad fascinating colours of joy

The vibrant hues of laughter...

The multitude shades of love...

The brilliant textures of exuberance...

And the flamboyant colours of exhilaration.

That is what the festival of colours symbolizes.

A celebration of life and all that makes it joyous.

Happy Holi"

The by-lingual greetings on the greeting card, which accompanied the gift packet, says.

Pradesh Congress president B.D.Kalla and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are also recipients of Ms.Raje's "tohfa". It is not clear whether the packets were send to them in their political capacities for the reason that both Mr.Kalla and Mr.Gehlot are members of the State Assembly.

Ms.Raje's list is seemingly not complete when it comes to political parties. Asked about the packet from the Chief Minister, Communist Party of India State Secretary Dushyant Ojha drew a blank. When told about that CPI (M) party office received one this time Mr.Ojha said good-humouredly: "It is okay. We can ask for a small share from our fellow comrades".

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