"Poor politicians, rich better halves!"
So what if the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddha does not own a house or a car and that he has only Rs 5,000 cash in hand. He has no bank deposits or investments. But his wife Meera has an income, according to her tax returns, of approximately Rs 7 lakh in 2009-10 and jewellery worth many lakhs along with investments.
It is an odd situation today where the political bigwigs are relatively poorer than their wives. Assam has the richest political wives. A senior minister's wife in the Gogoi government owns 17 plots of land. The wives of 13 of the 19 ministers, including the Chief Minister, are all crorepatis. Interestingly, the declared assets of Chief Minister Gogoi and his several ministers were only worth a few lakhs of rupees. Their wives seem to be savvy in their investments. They have shares of different companies valuing in crores and are land owners driving in posh cars. These political wives have flats and houses in Delhi and Guwahati too. The husbands may be lakhpatis, but the wives are all crorepatis.
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"VIPs catch cricket fever"
The Gandhis are no doubt a spontaneous lot. As the cricket fever caught up with the rich and poor last week, Manmohan Singh sat in VIP box in Mohali while Sonia Gandhi sat in the stands with her son Rahul and the aam aadmi cheered the Indian cricket team. Even during the Commonwealth Games, they sat with the public and not in any VIP enclosure.
After the match, Rahul Gandhi went off to the guesthouse in Chandigarh for a meal. Though the kitchen was nearly shut, he did get a bite there. Sonia Gandhi's enthusiasm led her to the streets at midnight shaking hands with the public at large after the World Cup win.
Pranab Mukherjee was so excited with the fact that he was the finance minister in 1983 when India lifted the World Cup and he is finance minister even today when India lifted the World.Cup after 28 years.
Wow! The spontaneous gestures of the Gandhis leave the Congress walas amazed. Rahul also walked into Advani's chamber at Parliament to sip coffee with him on the latter's birthday. Rahul can be seen at many local places like Sagar Ratna or the Big Chill in Khan Market with a friend sharing a meal. He stops his car to help a cycle wala if he notices someone needs help or lift a cute kid walking in the park. So it's not really that you will find the first family only at 5 star hotels. In fact, their favorite joints are where most locals eat. Mostly mother and son travel in the economy class in every airline.
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"Designers, models savvier"
As Fashion Week proceeds, it is a full season for our designers who are well known internationally. One notices instantly a difference in our designers and models as being savvier and have learnt the ropes of promotion. It is not just the event where you have to show your designs but every move here is a tactical well-thought-of be it a hug or a wave.
The right media coverage may lead to a new contact, client, even a business deal if your after-show party is a hit. Celebrities and bigwigs may arrive wearing the creation of the designer which helps in getting the right media hype and which will lead to business. The parties are hosted at 5-star hotels where some ambassadors of different nations will be present. You might spot Robert Vadra at designer Rohit Gandhi's after-show party. Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are usually present at Ashish Soni's parties.
So, fashion parties are now more business than pleasure with the right PR thrown in and as it so happened last year and now this year too the Fashion Week and the IPL season are neck to neck. So all around the atmosphere is of celebration and every moment is a PR exercise for liquor companies or new clubs.
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