Prez hosts 'at home' party; Advani, BJP leaders skip

President Pratibha Patil hosted "at home" function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day. No prominent BJP leaders including Leader of Opposition LK Advani was present at the function.

President Pratibha Patil on Monday hosted "at home" function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day.

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On a surprisingly hot evening, the sprawling Mughul Garden of the presidential palace was packed with politicians, police and army top brass, members of the diplomatic corps and eminent persons from various walks of life.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Vice-President Mohammed Hameed Ansari, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee sat within the VVIP enclosure.

No prominent BJP leaders including Leader of Opposition LK Advani was present at the function.

Under the protocol norms, all Union ministers, including External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram should be in a separate enclosure.