Inside PM Modi and Priyanka Gandhi’s Friendly ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ in Parliament

Despite frequent clashes between the government and the Opposition during most of the Winter Session of Parliament, the session concluded on a cordial note on Friday, with MPs from across party lines attending the customary tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen in friendly conversation with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi during the gathering, according to visuals from the event. Priyanka Gandhi was seated across from the prime minister, alongside Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to sources quoted by news agency PTI, Priyanka Gandhi, who represents Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, told PM Modi that she is learning Malayalam to better communicate with her constituents.

Their conversation also touched on PM Modi’s recent three-nation visit to Africa and the Middle East. Priyanka Gandhi asked him about the trip, and the prime minister remarked that Ethiopia was very different from common perceptions in India, noting its significant social and economic progress, PTI reported.

The prime minister also drew laughter from those present with a light-hearted remark about the Winter Session having only 15 sittings. When Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav observed that it was one of the shortest Parliament sessions, PM Modi joked that it was “good for his throat” as he did not have to raise his voice for too many days.

Several other MPs attended the tea meeting, including NCP leader Supriya Sule, DMK’s A Raja, Union ministers Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU), and LJP (RVP) leader Chirag Paswan.

The customary tea meeting is held at the conclusion of every Parliament session. “After the conclusion of the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha, a pleasant conversation took place with the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and esteemed leaders of all parties,” Speaker Om Birla said in a post on X.

Notably, the Opposition had boycotted the tea meeting following the Budget Session earlier this year.

The Winter Session of Parliament ended on Friday after 19 days, with sittings totalling 92 hours and 25 minutes, registering productivity of 111%.