A little sweetener

The recently-concluded Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M) was one of the more high-voltage meetings of the party in recent times. Allegations and counter-allegations flew thick and fast. While many leaders bitterly criticised others, the Andhra Pradesh unit of the CPI(M) tried to reduce some of the bitterness — the state unit gifted two mangoes to each Central Committee member on the first day of the meeting. The premier ‘Benishan’ variety of mangoes from the state, however, were placed in plastic polybags of the type that have been banned in the capital. The Maharashtra unit of the CPI(M) too, occasionally, sends Alphonso mangoes to the party headquarters.