Politicians shift gear to speedy fun mode

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Rajiv Pratap Rudy with Shahnawaz Hussain enjoying a vintage drive; (below left) Naveen Jindal

Away from the parliamentary debates and political rivalries, parliamentarians came together to enjoy an outing behind the wheels on a sunny morning. The JK Tyre-Parliamentarian Car Rally, organised by the Constitution Club, was a perfect occasion for legislators to gear into a fun mode for the rally, which was flagged off from the Club, Rafi Marg.

“I really like to drive. But hardly ever get the chance to enjoy driving like I did today. The weather was apt for an outing,” said Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Bihar. The rally, in its third year, has become a fun feature for parliamentarians and they all look forward to it, said C.P. Joshi, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, adding, “It’s nice to come out and meet other legislators outside the Parliament, otherwise we are just running from one meeting to another.”
This year over 80 teams including 25 parliamentarians, diplomats, media, PSUs and armed forces personnel participated in the rally, which covered a 37.5-km route. Some of the prominent parliamentarians who participated in the rally included Naveen Jindal, Tarun Vijay, Dr Sanjay Singh and Thomas Sangma.
“Rally is not exactly a politician’s kind of thing, but it was a very different experience for me. Though I am not very fond of driving, today I enjoyed taking the road with other legislators,” smiled Prakash Javadekar, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha, who seemed to be in a rather chilled out mood.
The two-hour rally was a family affair with the spouses and children of many participants joining the party. Avijit Singh, son of MP V.P. Singh Badnore, had to get into the driver’s seat during the rally as his father had to urgently leave for a meeting. After finishing the rally and winning an award for Best Performance in Classic Cars category, Avijit Singh said that parliamentarians were a tough competition.
“My father is very fond of vintage cars and participating with him in this rally is not just thrilling but also competitive. I regularly participate in rallies but this one was a memorable experience. The parliamentarians were out on the road for an unforgettable drive,” he adds.
During the prize distribution ceremony, Anushka Manchanda gave a scintillating musical and dance performance. As Anushka tried to make some of the parliamentarians sing along with her, Rajiv Rudy quipped, “Someone who can’t sing can’t be an MP.”
Racing driver Karun Chandhok, who also participated in the rally, said that the rally should also be taken to other states. “We had about 70 teams last year and this year there are about 80 teams. Since the rally brings many eminent personalities together for a drive, I believe it should be introduced in other states also,” said Karun.