Winter Session Ends on Warm Note as Priyanka Gandhi’s Light Remark Sparks Laughter at Speaker’s Tea

After weeks of heated debates, walkouts and sharp political exchanges, the Winter Session of Parliament concluded on an unexpectedly cordial note as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla hosted the customary tea for Members of Parliament on Friday.

In a break from recent sessions, Opposition leaders attended the gathering in full strength, using the informal interaction to ease tensions that had built up during nearly three weeks of intense parliamentary sparring.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who led the Opposition in the Lok Sabha during Rahul Gandhi’s absence, represented her party at the event. Photographs released by the Speaker’s office showed her seated next to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Om Birla also present.

Light Moments at the Tea

Sources said the brief 20-minute interaction featured several lighter moments. Priyanka Gandhi reportedly mentioned that she consumes a herbal remedy from her Wayanad constituency to prevent allergies, a comment that drew smiles from both Prime Minister Modi and Rajnath Singh.

She also enquired about the Prime Minister’s recent foreign visit to Ethiopia, Jordan and Oman, to which Modi responded that the trip had been productive.

Humour Amid Political Rivals

Several Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and CPI leader D Raja, were present. When Yadav suggested that the Winter Session could have been extended, Modi jokingly remarked that it was intentionally kept short so his throat would not suffer — a light-hearted reference to Yadav’s energetic interventions in the House.

The Prime Minister also praised a few Opposition MPs, including NK Premchandran, for their preparedness during debates. When a proposal was floated for a central hall for MPs in the new Parliament complex, Modi quipped that it would be useful after retirement, drawing laughter from those present.

Shift in Opposition Stance

The Opposition’s participation marked a notable shift from the Monsoon Session, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several MPs had skipped the Speaker’s tea, alleging bias in the conduct of proceedings. This time, sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge encouraged all Opposition MPs to attend, acknowledging the Speaker’s role in ensuring a fair Winter Session.