At his first press conference, Nitin Gadkari, the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was reminded by journalists, rather sneeringly, of his provincial origins. “You have lived and worked in Maharashtra. Here, in Delhi, there are leaders who think they are ten-feet tall. How will you cope,” asked a reporter. “I have turned my back on the Legislative Council, of which I am a member” Gadkari said (he is leader of the Opposition there).
He also said he had no plans to contest elections for three years. But a foodie himself, he could not resist making a concession to his ‘provincial’ origins: Famous Maharashtra dessert puran poli was especially made for the lunch that followed the press conference. The conversation at the lunch table — among other things — was about how to cook mutton in various styles.