From the CPP: Govinda ala re...

Filmstar turned first time Member of Parliament Govinda came under special media glare as he entered the Central Hall of Parliament for the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting.

Escorted by former Union minister Kamal Nath, Govinda, 'the giant killer' who defeated Petroleum Minister Ram Naik from North Mumbai, received warm hugs from Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and others.

Obliging a battery of photographers, the 'Hero No 1', dressed in a white safari suit, posed for them.

A 'namaste', a salute and a flying kiss was there before he moved from row to row shaking hands and paying respects to the members.

The 'Raja Babu' later occupied a back row seat next to Kamal Nath.


Jogi comes in wheelchair to greet Gandhi

Former Chattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi, who won from Mahasamund, came in a wheelchair to Parliament House to greet Sonia Gandhi after she was elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Jogi, who defeated former Union Minister V C Shukla in a keenly fought election, was badly injured in a road accident during election campaign.

A former AICC spokesman, Jogi was suspended by the party in the wake of cash-for-MLAs scam after the BJP victory in Chhatisgarh Assembly polls a few months back.

But the suspension was revoked shortly before he was given a ticket to fight the Lok Sabha election.

Jogi, who is undergoing medical treatment in Delhi, also greeted Rahul Gandhi, who was seated in the front row.

'Oldest' member of RS, 'newest' of LS

Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee described himself as the 'oldest member' of the Rajya Sabha and the 'newest member' of the Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee, who has held the key portfolios of Finance, Commerce and External Affairs in earlier Congress governments, stated this while proposing the name of Sonia Gandhi as leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

"I take this opportunity to congratulate all of you as the oldest member in the Upper House and the newest member of the Lower House," he said.

It was a special moment for Mukherjee who has held  several terms in Rajya Sabha of which he is a sitting member but lost thrice earlier in Lok Sabha elections. Mukherjee won from Jangzpur in West Bengal, marking his entry as a Lok Sabha member for the first time.