Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to attend Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, following an invitation received by the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. The invitation, reportedly sent by BJP leader Pralhad Joshi on Saturday night, comes after earlier reports indicated that INDIA bloc leaders had not been invited to the event.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had previously stated, “So far we have not received any information from the government. We have not received any invitation…foreign leaders have been invited. Being the principal opposition party and the INDIA bloc leadership, we have not been informed. I do not know what the mood of the government is.”
Meanwhile, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also confirmed that she had not received an invitation for the ceremony and stated that she would not be attending. “I have neither received (the invitation), nor will I go. I have already said that I wish well for the people in the country for not voting for him (PM Modi),” she said. “I am sorry, but I cannot wish well to an unconstitutional, illegal party for forming the government. My best wishes will be for the country,” she added.
The swearing-in ceremony of Modi and the cabinet is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 7.15 pm in Delhi.