Buddha,Mamata keep out of each others way on Gandhis last day

While the Chief Minister came to the lawns where a tea party was organised by the Governor for his guests,numbering about 600,Mamata came when the ceremony was over and Gandhi had left the venue for his quarters.

She went straight into the Governors residence and spent about 20 minutes there. Explaining why she had met him separately,the Railway Minister told reporters: I cant have interaction with those who insulted the Governor from time to time. And I informed the Governor that I would meet him separately. He agreed to that.

The two Trinamool leaders who did come to the tea party were MP Somen Mitra and Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy. While Roy came after Bhattacharjee had left,Mitra kept out of the Chief Ministers way.

Almost everybody who is anybody in Bengal turned up for the party,including industrialist B K Birla,CPM state secretary Biman Bose,Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta,Minister of State for Minorties Abdus Sattar,former chief minister S S Ray,danseuse Amala Shankar,filmmaker Aparna Sen,artist Shubaprasanna,the top brass of the state administration,V-Cs of most universities,members of the diplomatic corps etc.

Despite their frequent war of words in the past,Bhattacharjee and Gandhi had a pleasant exchange. I am leaving for Chennai tomorrow. We will meet again, the Governor told him. The Chief Minister gave him two books as a farewell gift,Mamata too came bearing a present.

Earlier,Gandhi went to Jyoti Basus house to bid him goodbye.