The Ambani-Merchant nuptials, culminated in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai after a series of celebrations spanning multiple countries over the past four months. Notably absent from the Mumbai reception, however, was Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,
Rahul Gandhi.
Reports suggest that billionaire
Mukesh Ambani had personally invited Rahul Gandi and Sonia Gandhi for his son Anant Ambani’s wedding. These speculations arose after the businessman was seen arriving at 10, Janpath. Sources close to Gandhi, however, had firmly denied his attendance, underlining a strategic move to reassert his image as a leader connected to the common citizen.
Amid the celebrations, Rahul Gandhi was seen adressing a crowd of people. Talking about the grandeur of the event being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, he sardonically remarked how all of this was happening while the public was suffering.
Further, a video of the 54-year-old Congress leader waiting for his order at a Delhi pizzeria has gone viral. And many speculate that the timing of this co-incided with some of his allies attending the Ambani event.
While Gandhi's decision to abstain is seen as a deliberate stance against what he critiques as “crony capitalism”, particularly under the current
NDA government, some of his allies and colleagues from his party such as Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mamata Banerjee graced the occasion.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi also attended the Ambani-Merchant reception to give his blessings to the happy couple. Andra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu was also in attendance.
Read: PM Narendra Modi attends Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's star-studded wedding eventAmit Malviya, the national head of the Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell, took a swipe at Gandhi's absence, insinuating that the Congress leader might be abroad, a notion that has stirred controversy in political circles. Malviya's comments also alluded to the participation of opposition leaders in the wedding festivities, contrasting sharply with their criticisms of prominent industrialists like Ambani and Adani.
The
Ambani wedding saga, from its extravagant pre-wedding celebrations in Gujarat and Italy to the final celebrations in Mumbai, has been a magnet for media attention, showcasing the elite social circle of the Ambani family. While a majority of the festivities have come to an end, the event continues to attract equal parts admiration and scrutiny, particularly around the intricate web of political dynamics that surround them.
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