Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today chose bhai phonta over a Cabinet meeting in Delhi, preferring to celebrate the festival at her Kalighat residence with family members and party leaders.

Since morning, relatives thronged Banerjee’s residence. Among them were her brother and maternal and paternal cousins along with their family members. Banerjee personally oversaw the arrangements for food and sweets.

Later in the afternoon, senior party leaders visited her. Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy, Union MoS for Tourism Sultan Ahmed and Leader of the Opposition in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Javed Khan were among those who turned up.

According to sources, the railway minister had informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding her absence in the Cabinet meeting. “The bhai phonta festival is very important to her. She celebrates it at her home with family members, relatives and senior party leaders. We all are her brothers and she is our Didi,” said a senior party leader.

Banerjee has skipped at least seven Cabinet meetings since she took over as the railway minister in the UPA government in May 2009.

“Today, no press conference. Just plain simple enjoyment,” Banerjee was heard saying during today’s festivities at her residence.

Meanwhile, the police had to take away a man who tried to force his way into Banerjee’s house. Sources said the man seemed mentally unstable.