The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family who was here to campaign for the candidates of the Congress-led United Democratic Front for Wednesday’s general elections to the state assembly, dropped in at the busy Sindhoor Palace Restaurant where he found it difficult to get a seat. Clad in a pair of jeans and T-shirt, he arrived at the restaurant at around 8.30 p.m. Saturday with two of his friends from New Delhi.

O.K. Khalid, the proprietor of the hotel, rushed to his help and arranged him a table. He spent 45 minutes there during which he interacted with the crowd. Khalid who hails from Mahe in northern Kerala is happy that his visit has set the hotel’s cash registers ringing. His bill came to Rs. 645 but he paid Rs.1,000 leaving for his guesthouse. Gandhi’s menu included a North-South mix with fish curry, prawns pepper fry, paneer mutter masala, appam, Kerala porotta, mint ginger lime juice and fruit salad with ice cream. He also interacted with the waiters and chefs.