New Delhi, Jun 01: The much-awaited UPA report card presentation ceremony turned out to be a sombre affair as the government did away with its earlier plans of a gala dinner and the usual hype surrounding such events in the wake of the recent Mangalore air crash.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Congress colleagues must have heaved a sigh of relief when Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee made a rare appearance at today’s programme.
The TMC leader has been keeping away from Cabinet meetings and has not toed the UPA government’s line on several crucial issues. She had skipped today’s cabinet meeting earlier in the day despite being in the capital.
Banerjee sat next to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and was seen chatting with her. The two were seen smiling while discussing the report card.
–Agencies