THE Congress’ plenary sessions are best remembered for the excellent food served. But, at the last session, the culinary fare failed to live up to the expectations. Delhi Congress Chief Jai Prakash Agarwal and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were the hosts but both left Congress workers disappointed albeit sotto voce. However, mediapersons are not bound by party loyalty and loudly complained that the food was unpalatable and, at times, even halfcooked. Some did not touch it. The food in-charge was Mangat Ram Singhal, a seasoned Congress leader. He was nowhere to be seen.In sharp contrast was the impeccable media management by the party bosses. The top leaders regularly emerged to brief and debrief the media, especially the electronic media. Agarwal worked zealously, not losing any opportunity to garland Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Even Congressmen were taken aback to see Agarwal stopping Rahul Gandhi after his speech to garland him and drape a shawl — all unscheduled. The party’s media managers rounded off the plenary session with a cocktail party in Ashoka Hotel at which the regular entourage of mediapersons who covered the session were in attendance to hear paeans of praise to Sonia, Rahul and Manmohan.
