Mamata relaxing after presenting a spirited budget

NEW DELHI - A day after Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presented the rail budget in parliament Friday, the spirited lady relaxed at home and relished the weekend.

The 90-minute animated presentation Friday in the Lok Sabha had left the minister weary but she was calm and relaxing at home Saturday, according to officials posted at her residence and office.

“She got a bit tired yesterday (Friday) as you also know that it was a hectic day for her,” said one of Banerjee’s guards standing next to her humble blue Maruti Zen parked in a shed amid several Mercedes and BMWs sporting red beacons.

“But now she is relaxing,” he added.

Banerjee resides on the fourth floor of the posh M.S. flats on Baba Kharag Singh Marg in central Delhi opposite the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

When asked about the minister’s departure back home to Kolkata, an official at her residence told IANS: “Nothing has been finalised. We will move according to the minister’s wish, which could be next week or the week that follows.”

According to the official, the minister had a simple home cooked dinner and went to bed after the meal Friday. “It was a dinner consisting of lentils, subzi (vegetable), rice and chapatis.”