New Delhi: Amid weeks of acrimonious debates, walkouts and protests during the Winter Session of Parliament, a lighter moment emerged at the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, when an anecdote shared by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra drew smiles from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
A cordial close to a stormy session
The tea party, traditionally organised by the Speaker at the end of every parliamentary session, is meant to ease tensions and restore a sense of cordiality between members cutting across party lines. This time, the gathering assumed added significance as it marked a rare moment of warmth after nearly three weeks of sharp political exchanges in both Houses.
Unlike the previous session, Opposition leaders attended the event in full strength. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra represented the Congress at the gathering, stepping in as a key figure in the House in the absence of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. According to photographs released by the Speaker’s office, she was seated next to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, alongside Speaker Om Birla and Prime Minister Modi.
Lighter moments and shared laughter
Sources present at the meeting said the tea party, which lasted around 20 minutes, witnessed several informal exchanges and humorous remarks. One such moment came when Priyanka Gandhi mentioned that she consumes a particular herb from Wayanad, her Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, to prevent allergies. The anecdote reportedly amused the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, both of whom were seen smiling at her remark.
Priyanka Gandhi also enquired about the Prime Minister’s recent three-nation tour covering Ethiopia, Jordan and Oman. PM Modi briefly responded that the trip had gone well, keeping the exchange light and conversational.
Such moments, sources said, stood in contrast to the combative tone that dominated the Winter Session, which saw repeated adjournments and strong protests over key legislations and policy issues.
Participation across party lines
Several senior Opposition leaders were present at the gathering, including Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule and Communist Party of India leader D Raja. Their presence underscored an apparent willingness among Opposition parties to maintain parliamentary decorum despite political differences.
During the interaction, Dharmendra Yadav reportedly remarked that the Winter Session could have been extended further. In response, PM Modi made a light-hearted quip, saying the session had been kept short so that his throat would not hurt — a reference, sources suggested, to Yadav’s high-decibel arguments during debates in the House. The comment drew laughter from those present.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to praise some Opposition MPs, including NK Premchandran, for coming well-prepared to Parliament and contributing substantively to debates.
Suggestions on Parliament facilities
Some Opposition members used the informal setting to raise concerns and suggestions regarding the new Parliament building. They urged the Prime Minister to consider including a central hall similar to the one in the old Parliament complex, which traditionally served as a space for informal discussions among sitting and former MPs.
Responding in a jovial tone, PM Modi remarked that such a facility would be more appropriate “post-retirement”, adding that the MPs present still had a long period of public service ahead of them. The remark, sources said, once again lightened the atmosphere and elicited laughter across party lines.
Why Opposition attendance mattered
Priyanka Gandhi’s participation in the tea party was seen as politically significant, especially in light of the Opposition’s decision to boycott a similar gathering after the Monsoon Session. On that occasion, Rahul Gandhi and several other Opposition leaders had stayed away, accusing the Speaker of not allowing Opposition MPs adequate opportunities to speak in the House — a move that had drawn criticism even from the Prime Minister.
This time, however, sources indicated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had advised Opposition MPs to attend the tea party. The decision was reportedly based on the assessment that the Chair had been relatively fair to the Opposition during the Winter Session, allowing space for debate despite disruptions.
A symbolic pause in political rivalry
Political observers noted that while such tea parties do not alter the course of legislative politics, they serve as an important symbolic gesture. They offer lawmakers an opportunity to step away from adversarial postures and engage as colleagues, if only briefly.
The smiles shared over Priyanka Gandhi’s anecdote and the Prime Minister’s jokes were seen as reminders that parliamentary democracy thrives not only on debate and dissent, but also on civility and dialogue. As Parliament prepares for its next session, the brief moment of bonhomie provided a softer ending to an otherwise turbulent Winter Session.