Conspicuous by absence

Not long ago Smriti Irani was one of the contenders for the chief minister's seat in Lucknow

One important absentee amid all the bonhomie in the Bharatiya Janata Party and the celebrations in Delhi and Lucknow post the party’s massive win in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani. She was not to be seen at any of those events, probably minding her business at her office in New Delhi. Not long ago she was one of the contenders for the chief minister’s seat in Lucknow.