Celebrations erupted in West Bengal’s Miriti village as its son Pranab Mukherjee won the presidential election on Sunday, with joyous residents dancing to the beats of dhaks (traditional Bengal drum) and bursting firecrackers.
“Amder gorbo Pranabbabu (Pranabb-abu is our pride)” said one of the banners put up near the gates of the house, where he conducts Durga Puja every year.
In fact, with Mr Mukherjee expected to win by a comfortable margin, the celebrations had begun since morning even before counting was taken up.
Huge flexi-boards were put up outside his ancestral house “Mukherjee Bhavan”, congratulating him on becoming the President-elect.
Songs specially written for the occasion were sung and there was beating of dhaks (traditional Bengal drum) outside the house.
As the news of his win reached them, people played with colour and took out a procession.
Mukherjee Bhavan will be decorated with lights and a community feast held on Sunday night in the honour of Miriti’s most-celebrated son. At Kirnahar, where Mr Mukherjee’s sister Annapurna Banerjee and her family stay and he puts up during his visits, arrangements were complete to light up the house with candles and lamps.
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Congress hits out at sangma over remarks
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, July 22
Congress on Sunday criticised P.A. Sangma, saying magnanimity should mark the conduct of those contesting elections as the BJP-backed candidate. Mr Sangma alleged that the non-UPA-ruled states were lured with inducements during poll.
Talking to mediapersons here, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, said, “Magnanimity should mark the conduct of people, who contest elections. Gritting after losing an election only endorses the proverb that grapes are sour (when you cannot reach them)”. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi also rejected Mr Sangma’s contentions saying, “I think one should not talk with such a narrow vision.”