New Delhi, Dec 5, 2025

A debate has resurfaced after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge raised objections to not being invited to the President’s banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also questioned why the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) was not included in certain key interactions.

Analysts note that LoP Rahul Gandhi’s past absences from several major national and ceremonial events have fuelled questions about the party’s moral standing in raising such objections. They suggest that the LoP’s record of non-participation in constitutional occasions counters claims about ‘protocol breaches’.

The controversy has also prompted a broader discussion about the expectations and conventions associated with the office of the LoP. Critics argue that raising concerns

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