The G-20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu is expected to have a thin attendance of Opposition leaders as Chief Ministers of at least six out of the 12 Opposition-ruled States are likely to skip the event for various reasons. The two former Prime Ministers, Manmohan Singh and H.D. Deve Gowda, also won’t be attending the dinner, citing poor health.
According to sources, out of four Congress Chief Ministers, three — Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan, Siddaramaiah of Karnataka and Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh — are not heading for Delhi. Mr. Gehlot, it is learnt, is still nursing his fractured toes and has restricted travel. Mr. Baghel too has said that he is not well enough to travel to the capital. Mr. Siddaramaiah has given similar reasons.
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BRS leader and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has not given any reason but sources in the Chief Minister’s office claim that it is unlikely that Mr. Rao will fly to Delhi. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is currently in London and is expected to return only on September 12.
According to sources, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has neither confirmed nor denied his presence in Delhi. A decision will be made soon.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has confirmed his absence but hasn’t given any reason for it.
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Among the attendees are Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
No invite has been extended to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and heads of other political parties..
President Murmu will host the dinner on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G-20 summit of world leaders.
