Sonia, Rahul host dinner for Cong, Oppn leaders

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi and newly elected party president Rahul Gandhi today hosted a dinner for MPs and Opposition leaders as part of the tradition practised for some years now.

The customary Parliament session dinner hosted at a five star hotel here was attended among others by former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and senior Opposition leaders.

The Opposition was represented by NC's Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Praful Patel, CPM's Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D Raja, TMC's Derek O Brien, SP's Ramgopal Yadav and RJD's Misa Bharti and Jayprakash Yadav.

The BSP was absent.

The dinner was attended by all Congress state presidents, Congress Legislature Party leaders, party office-bearers and MPs.

Sonia Gandhi walked around mingling with everyone and all Opposition leaders greeted Rahul Gandhi on his new assignment as president of the 132-year-old party.