Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to Mysore on last Sunday night but his convoy was late from the scheduled time. As a result, when Deputy Commissioner tried to book rooms in Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel they said that all rooms were full due to a wedding reception. According to a top official, the convoy of PM was not able to stay at Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel because all rooms were booked.
The district administration booked another lavish hotel in the city for Prime Minister and his staff personnel. The General Manager of Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel, Joseph Mathias said that they were unable to provide rooms to the Prime Minister and his security personnel when an officer from Deputy Commissioner’s office came because most of the rooms were booked for a wedding reception.
Joseph Mathias said that one family had already booked 51 out of 54 rooms available. When the officials from District Commissioner’s office came there were no rooms for their accommodation so they had to leave. The General Manager of the hotel said that they had hosted the Prime Minister and President and their entourage in the hotel. They also knew what kind of security arrangements are necessary for the food safety and other things. He said that if there was a slight possibility for canceling the bookings, they would have done so as it was a great honor for them t host PM and President.
Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel was ready to give the three remaining room to Prime Minister and his entourage but it was security protocol to book enough for the accommodation of a large staff. The district administration made arrangements in the Radisson Blu Hotel which is also considered as of the plush hotels in the city. Prime Minister stayed overnight in the hotel.
In the Radisson Blu hotel, one businessman was advised to reschedule the wedding to some other time because of the security of the Prime Minister. They were advised to finish the reception before the Prime Minister arrived. The main reason for this visit was for engagements a Jain pilgrimage center in Hassan district, Shravanabelagola.
In his last visit, Prime Minister had stayed at the hotel for two days in 2016. Remembering that incident, Mathias said that he still remembered when the PM came I was there to receive him. Prime Minister had asked for some Karnataka dishes so the hotel management had prepared ragi muddle and bisi bele baath. Mathias says that Prime Minister had really enjoyed the dish.
Recalling the earlier visits, Mathias says that Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel had received Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister and President Abdul Kalam. President Abdul Kalam had insisted on paying for his bills but Mathias had denied receiving money as it was against the protocol. He had then paid for someone who accompanied him.
