From Wayanad to Africa: Inside PM Modi-Priyanka Gandhi’s 'friendly' Parliament tea meet

The Wayanad MP's presence at the tea meeting drew attention as she was seated in the front row alongside senior leaders, despite being a first-time MP with no formal position in the Congress parliamentary party.

The Winter Session of Parliament, which was marked by frequent friction between the government and the Opposition, concluded on a cordial note on Friday with Members of Parliament across party lines attending the customary tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

During the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were seen engaged in a friendly conversation, according to visuals from the event.

The Congress MP was seated across from the Prime Minister, next to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Gandhi, who represents Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, told the Prime Minister that she was learning Malayalam to help communicate better with her constituents. The discussion also touched upon PM Modi’s recent three-nation visit to Africa and the Middle East.

When Gandhi asked the Prime Minister about his visit, PM Modi said Ethiopia was quite different from how it is commonly perceived in India and was progressing well socially and economically.

The meeting also saw light-hearted moments.

#WATCH | Delhi | Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla holds a meeting with the leaders of parties and Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha, in his Chamber in Parliament House on the conclusion of Winter Session of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/extCsBGoot

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2025

When Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav remarked that the Winter Session was among the shortest in recent times, PM Modi jokingly said the limited number of sittings was good for his throat as he did not have to raise his voice for too many days. The remark reportedly drew laughter from those present.

Several senior leaders attended the meeting, including NCP MP Supriya Sule, DMK MP A Raja, and Union ministers Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP), Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU), and Chirag Paswan (LJP–RVP).

A customary tea meeting is organised at the end of every Parliament session.

In a post on X, Speaker Om Birla said, “After the conclusion of the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha, a pleasant conversation took place with the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and esteemed leaders of all parties.”

The Opposition had boycotted the customary tea meeting following the Budget Session earlier this year.

The Winter Session concluded after 19 days, with sittings spanning a cumulative 92 hours and 25 minutes and registering productivity of 111 percent.

The Wayanad MP's presence at the tea meeting drew attention as she was seated in the front row alongside senior leaders, despite being a first-time MP with no formal position in the Congress parliamentary party.

Throughout the session, Gandhi maintained a regular presence in Parliament and participated in proceedings. She was also seen interacting with leaders across party lines, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, with whom she discussed infrastructure-related issues concerning Wayanad during the session.