Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: You hardly get a chance to see political heavyweights quite far apart in the political spectrum relishing some mouth-watering dishes across a table. Such camaraderie was seen when Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hosted a lunch for Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday.

Shah, Banerjee and Kumar were reportedly in Bhubaneswar to attend the 24th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting today.

Post meeting, Shah, Banerjee and Kumar along with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan turned up at Naveen Niwas, the official residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the lunch.

Several pictures of Shah, Banerjee, Kumar along with Patnaik are doing rounds in social media. However, all eyes were on Amit Shah and West Bengal CM Mamata sharing a table as they have been staunch critics of one another.

The guests at Naveen Niwas were offered some mouth water delicacies apart from the traditional rice, dal, brinjal fry, paneer, tomato chutney along with several non-vegetarian dishes of chicken, mutton and prawns. All the items were prepared by a star hotel in Bhubaneswar and were served in traditional brass plates, sources said.

However, Mamata skipped food and had only some 'raita' at Naveen Niwas.

“As Naveen Patnaik ji had invited me for lunch and on his request I had some Raita. Both Odisha and West Bengal cuisines are almost similar,” said Banerjee.

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