Chief minister designate Ashok Chavan hosted Sathya Sai Baba at his official bungalow, Varsha, in Malabar Hills on Sunday. The corridors of power turned into a pilgrimage centre as top politicos and the prominent citizens of Mumbai thronged to seek the spiritual leader’s blessings.
The godman — who was also the “spiritual guru” to Chavan’s father, former chief minister SB Chavan — reportedly went around on his wheelchair to bless every room of the sprawling bungalow. A closed-door special puja was also conducted in the drawing room, which was attended by Chavan’s family members.
A senior minister in the previous cabinet said, “Chavan asked his guru to bless every nook and corner of the bungalow to ensure his five-year tenure is hurdle-free.” Another eyewitness, also a minister-in-waiting, said, “It is a matter of faith. We believe his presence in Varsha will resolve the government formation deadlock between the Congress and the NCP.”
Though a large number of politicians are followers of the guru from Puttaparthi, this is the first occasion when the official bungalow of a Maharashtra chief minister has hosted such a spiritual ceremony. The fragrance of fresh flowers and incense sticks enveloped the place. A senior Congress leader said, “It was like a big celebration, with a lavish spread of strictly vegetarian food including South Indian, North Indian, Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisines.”
Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel, deputy chief minister designate Chhagan Bhujbal, former Union minister Shivraj Patil and Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh, along with his family members, were present.
Later in the evening, NCP leader Jayant Patil invited the Baba to his Royal Stone bungalow at Peddar Road for high tea and puja.
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