Parliament’s monsoon session is underway in New Delhi, a period when ministers and MPs often invite colleagues and journalists to their homes for informal gatherings—typically over lunch.
In that backdrop, Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor recently hosted a luncheon that drew a varied guest list, including foreign diplomats, Supreme Court advocates, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several journalists.
The event was described more as a “mango party” than a conventional lunch, with mangoes and mango juice served to attendees along with a few snacks.
Although Tharoor had extended invitations to Congress leaders, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi did not attend. Several senior Congress figures were also not seen, with only a few Congress MPs present while journalists formed a large share of the gathering.
According to the report, Tharoor’s tendency to speak his mind has at times created discomfort for the party, which was cited as a reason for the absence of many senior leaders. Diplomats at the luncheon reportedly discussed global politics with him, while a recurring question among attendees was whether Tharoor would continue in the Congress.
