Home minister Sudesh Mahto (centre) and Satish Pillai, chief, Tata Steel, sports, (in pink shirt) sign Mahto?s manifesto before sending it to the members at the Circuit House. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, May 11: Cornflakes, fruits, dry fruits, milk and idlis, massage, get together and a quick t?te-?-t?te with some politicians and contractors marked home minister Sudesh Mahto?s day today.

Visitors, including members, kept moving in and out of the air-conditioned room of the Circuit House, where Mahto had put himself up after arriving here late last night.

He beamed when some members from the district (West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan) and a prominent candidate from the rival camp dropped in to meet him.

Rajesh Verma ?Bobby?, a candidate for the secretary?s post from the Amitabh Choudhary camp, was a surprise visitor. Both of them posed for a photo-op together and flashed the ?V? sign, claiming victory by a thumping margin.

JMM parliamentarian Sunil Mahto joined him at breakfast as both quickly went through a manifesto which Sudhir Mahto, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, had jointly jotted down for his perusal. The manifesto mentioned taking cricket to the villages and finding more Dhonis. ?Is it all right Sudesh,? Sunil anxiously enquired while the minister quietly concentrated on the bowl of cornflakes. He helped himself to more cornflakes before going through the manifesto written on a JMM letter pad.

?Got to have this manifesto printed. It is written from the core of our heart. See how we are worried about the upliftment of cricket,? said Mahto.

Breakfast over, the minister slipped into his faded blue jeans and a spotless white shirt.

A.K. Srivastava, president of the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a nominee for the vice-president?s post from the minister?s camp, state Congress chief and Ghatshila MLA Pradip Balmuchu and Ajsu activists greeted the minister.

JSCA local members, including the candidates from his camp, namely former Test batsman Ramesh Saxena (secretary), S.N. Gupta (treasurer), Jittu Patel (schools and clubs representative), were busy discussing strategy and the day?s schedule.

In the afternoon, Hidayatullah Khan, state president of Lok Jan Shakti Party, dropped in to extend his support to Mahto, who seemed in a hurry to take a quick siesta.

The minister later went to JRD Tata Sports Complex to meet members. In the evening he attended a get-together at Beldih Club to meet more members. Tata Steel deputy managing director AN Singh, Tata Steel sports department chief Satish Pillai and other senior officials were present.