Praful, Tharoor have long chat at Lok Sabha

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and former Minister of State Shashi Tharoor were seen having a long chat in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, after a newspaper reported their alleged link in the Indian Premier League bids for the Kochi team.

Around 3 pm, when the House was debating the Demand for Grants for the rural development ministry, Patel and Tharoor walked in one after another.

As Patel took a seat in the backbenches of the House on the treasury side, Tharoor soon went there and sat beside him.

The two then started their discussion, oblivious of the proceedings. They sat together for 15 minutes after which Patel left the House.

The development came two days after Patel rubbished allegations of his role in the IPL. However, the newspaper report on Thursday said Patel's personal secretary had sent a mail to Tharoor with a document containing projections of new franchisee valuations in IPL. Tharoor, who had resigned from the government on Sunday, has denied any illegality in his involvement in the IPL episode and Patel had said he had no role in the IPL.