Sonia Gandhi dinner for Opposition: Not for politics but friendship, says Congress

All roads in Delhi on Tuesday night led to 10 Janpath, residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had invited leaders of several Opposition parties for dinner. 

Those who were present on the occasion included Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party's Ramgopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Mishra, Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav, Hindustani Awam Morcha's Jitan Ram Manjhi and National Conference's Omar Abdullah.

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) chief Babulal Marandi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi, All India United Democratic Front's Badruddin Ajmal were also invited by the former Congress president.

The Congress said that the dinner should not be seen from the "prism of politics" and was for "friendship and better dialogue between parties."

"This dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi ji for opposition parties should not be seen from the prism of politics, it was for friendship and better dialogue between parties," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

The dinner is expected to set the tone for opposition unity in the run up to the next general elections.

Sonia Gandhi has called for opposition unity and said parties should set aside their minor differences to get together in the larger interest of keeping the BJP out of power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

(With inputs from PTI)