Last year, Somnath Chatterjee’s birthday was hardly the stuff of headlines. But after the trust vote, after his defiance of the party and, of course, just days after his expulsion by the CPM, Chatterjee’s 80th birthday turned out to a party loaded with meaning — from political solidarity to political ostracism. Left comrades were conspicuously absent — their explanation being that as per the party line, a birthday party is no big deal. “Birthdays have never been a big day for a real Communist. If Somnath had so many visitors today from other parties, it is only because they are trying to score brownie points over the Left,” a CPM leader told The Indian Express.

The points scored were aplenty.

“Somnath Chatterjee was in his elements. His former colleagues in the Left may have chosen to ignore him today. But he looked contented and happier than ever,” said Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Vayalar Ravi emerging from Chatterjee’s 20, Akbar Road residence after wishing him Happy Birthday.

Clearly, Somnath had reasons to be happy.

The first visitor he had today was Congress party president Sonia Gandhi who came with a single escort car and spent more than 10 minutes. Then came bouquets from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had met him yesterday. President Prathibha Patil also sent him flowers. Both sent top level officials to convey their regards on the occasion.

Right from veterans like HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, RJD’s Raghuvansh Prasad to Jitin Prasada, several came to greet him. Union Ministers Pawan Kumar Bansal, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad were the other prominent visitors.

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