Games MPs play

Parliamentarians to lock horns in sports.

Parliamentary proceedings are rarely sedentary; they involve lung power, fancy footwork and stamina. And to keep members of Parliament (MPs) fighting fit, the parliamentary affairs ministry is organising a sports tournament this Tuesday.

The initiator of the event, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, had given members a wide choice of over 24 events "" from sack races to lemon-in-a-spoon races. But the MPs have signed up for more conventional sporting pursuits.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram is up against stiff competition from the likes of Navjyot Singh Sidhu, Naveen Jindal and Milind Deora in table tennis.

However, the most popular game is badminton in which Rahul Gandhi will take on former BJP minister Ananth Kumar. The other shuttlers include EVKS Elangovan, Jual Oraon and Shakeel Ahmad.

The man behind the event, Azad himself has been practising for the shooting event. He will have to compete against Santosh Mohan Deb and Jitin Prasada. Very few women have shown interest, although the participants were expecting Hema Malini and Jayaprada to throw their hats in the ring.

Only Karun Shukla of the BJP has signed up for badminton. She is likely to be given a walkover. The participants have been asked to assemble at the Gandhi statue in Parliament at 9.15 am on November 30, from where they will proceed to the venue.

One thing is sure, the improved lung power and stamina does not augur well for a peaceful winter session of Parliament, which will commence on December 1.