In an attempt to forge Opposition unity, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday hosted leaders from 20 political parties, including the Congress, for dinner at her residence.
The Congress chief Rahul Gandhi described the dinner meet as one that created “positive energy, warmth and genuine affection.”
Posting a few pictures from the dinner meet, Mr. Gandhi tweeted, “Fabulous dinner tonight, hosted by UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi Ji. An opportunity for leaders from different political parties to meet and bond, informally. Much political talk but much more important - tremendous positive energy, warmth and genuine affection.”
Calling it a meet to generate goodwill and friendship, Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala said informal discussions centred around holding the government accountable to issues such as bank scams, agrarian distress and unemployment.
“Since the government is not interested in running Parliament, in the national interest Opposition leaders would discuss ways of holding the government accountable,” said Mr. Surjewala.
Apart from former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Congress president, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav and Misa Bharti, Left leaders Mohammed Salim and D. Raja were in attendance.
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jiten Ram Manjhi, who left NDA recently, too attended the dinner.
But prominent leaders like Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav didn’t attend. “All their representatives in Parliament were there,” said the Congress chief spokesperson.
The timing of the dinner is important as it comes not just in the middle of a stormy Parliament session — where the Opposition is keen to corner the government over alleged bank scams — but also amid talk of forging a Third Front of regional parties ahead of the 2019 polls without mentioning the Congress.
Ms. Mamata Banerjee had taken the lead by reaching out to DMK chief Stalin, Shiv Sena head Uddhav Thackeray and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.
Mr. Pawar too has been reaching out and plans to hold a meet of Opposition parties later this month.
