Tiwari turns up at BJP event, again

Dehradun, Feb 11 (PTI) Sidelined Congress leader N D Tiwari today shared the dais with BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, in yet another instance of his cosying up to the saffron party.Eyebrows were raised as the 85-year-old former chief minister not only rubbed shoulders with the BJP leaders at the party function here but also "praised" former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee terming him as an "old friend".The event saw the formal launch of the "Atal Foodgrains Scheme" by Gadkari here on the occasion of the death anniversary of Bhartiya Jana Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya.Tiwari, who was the only Congress leader to attend the event, told reporters that the scheme launched today is "going to immensely benefit the poor and needy"."I am confident that the Centre would extend all possible help for the scheme," said Tiwari and hailed it as a "model" project for other states.This is not the first time that the veteran Congress leader has left his party red faced. Tiwari had also "complimented" BJP leaders on the occasion of New Year after dropping at the party office on January 2.However, senior BJP leaders had then downplayed Tiwari's visit to the party office.Tiwari, who had to resign as Governor of Andhra Pradesh in 2009 in the midst of a sex scandal and is facing a paternity suit, keeps shuttling between Delhi and Dehradun.PTI CORR NSK