Mallikarjun Kharge is lone Opposition leader to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

Kharge was the only leader from the INDIA bloc present at the ceremony on Sunday.

Earlier, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had announced that it will skip the event. After meeting the newly-elected MPs on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the TMC won’t attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi on Sunday. She said, “We have not got an invitation yet. Even if we do, we will not attend the ceremony.” Banerjee added, “This government is forming undemocratically and unconstitutionally. We cannot give our best wishes to this government. We give our best wishes to the country and the people of the country,” she said.

Rajya Sabha member and Congress General Secretary in-charge (Communications) Jairam Ramesh had on Saturday said that for the swearing in on Sunday, “only international leaders have been sent invitations”. “So far, our leaders have not got invitations. When INDIA bloc leaders get an invitation, then we will consider it,” said Ramesh.

Other INDIA bloc members such as the Samajwadi Party, RJD, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, AAP, JMM, DMK, NCP (SP); Shiv Sena (UBT) skipped the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.