As we took turns to look at the watch, around 3.00 pm, the bomb squad had arrived and within 20 min had erected a metal detector gate and it was to be only entry into the hall. They said the VIP is already enroute and wanted some help from the electrician.

Some moments later without much fanfare, arrived our Chief guest of the day Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, the Honourable Minister of Urban Development & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs, Govt of India.

A tall leader literally came into the hall and went to meet and greet everyone in the hall. He was all ears as he listened to everyone as they introduced themselves shook hands and was it was a photops for quite a lot of people as the media went up clicking all the way.

The surprise was then he went on to greet the media persons and inquired about their name and the daily or the channel they belonged to.

Then he took some time to chat with others while we were getting the stage set with extra seats.

It would have been almost 25 minutes after he arrived he would have greeted everyone possible. The whole atmosphere was pretty cool for a political leader’s meet. The whole of whos’ who of Coimbatore was there to see him.

Then the formal event started with a welcome address and a wonderful presidential address by Shri Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, who in an instance also mentioned that for the first time the minister had arrived before time.

There was a nice video intro of Shri Venkaiahji, and then it was his turn to take the stage.

I was listening to a veteran parliamentarian, if you know this is the first time that the Parliament has worked 104% after a dismal show in the recent past.

He had everyone in splits with his sense of humor and the whole crowd was riveted to his every word. I did learn a lot on how to be with the crowd. He did take pots shots at the Congress but in a very subtle way and the people seemed to be enjoying. That perhaps is the hallmark of a veteran.

He was his usual self going to Telugu once in a while and the crowd seemed to be enjoying all the more.

Then a question and answer session followed, which was as a matter of factly very sensitive for him to answer but he did that in style.

The crowd I think had the best of time, I think if these are the ways of reaching out this govt spells danger to the opposition for sure. But let me remind you this was absolutely an non- political event.

Cheers!