After RSS visit, Pranab Mukherjee not invited for Rahul Gandhi's Iftar party

New Delhi: After a full day of speculation that former President Pranab Mukherjee might not make it to the list of invitees for the Congress’ ‘Iftar’ party to be held on June 13, the party officially clarified late in the evening that Mr Mukherjee has been invited and he has also accepted the invitation. 

The Iftar party which was being held after a gap of two years and the first after Mr Rahul Gandhi took over as the president of the party, is likely to be another show of Opposition unity, with all the leaders, who were present at the swearing-in of the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka, likely to attend or send their representatives.

Speculation was rife throughout the day that Mr Mukherjee was unlikely to be invited with many party insiders claiming that the leadership had decided not to invite former vice-president Hamid Ansari as well as they had held constitutional positions. Mr Mukherjee’s office too confirmed that no invitation has reached them yet.

However, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, “Congress President has extended an invite to Sh. Pranab Mukherjee & he has graciously accepted. Hope this will set to rest unwarranted speculation.” (sic).

“To set the record straight, May I point out that Pranab Dada had attended the last Iftar get together organised by then Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi too. Bereft of unwarranted issues, let compassion & friendship for all guide us in the holy month of Ramadan,” he added. (sic)

The party’s minority cell chairperson Nadim Javed told this newspaper, “The guest list was being prepared by senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad and would be finalised only by Tuesday afternoon. Hence, we would know only then who all among Opposition parties and senior Congress leaders would be invited”.