New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Derek O'Brien said on Saturday that he will represent West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at the Iftar parties to be hosted by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
“On behalf of Mamata Di I will be attending Kejriwal ji's Iftar tomorrow and Sonia ji's iftar on Monday,” ANI quoted Derek as saying.
Derek confirmed that the TMC chief and West Bengal CM would not make the journey to the national capital for the ceremonies to mark 'Iftar' due to some pre-scheduled meeting.
“Mamata Di is not going to NITI Aayog meeting, as there was an important meet pre-planned,” he added.
Eairlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal invited Mamata Banerjee for iftar which was accepted by the TMC chief.
Accepting Kejriwal's Iftar invitation, to be held tomorrow, Mamata extended her good wishes and said TMC's Derek O'Brien and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy would be present on her behalf.
"Thanks @arvindkejriwal for Iftar invitation on Mon. Good wishes. As I am in Kol, my colleagues Derek & Sukhendu will be there," the TMC chief tweeted.
Thanks @arvindkejriwal for Iftar invitation on Mon. Good wishes. As I am in Kol, my colleagues Derek & Sukhendu will be there
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 11, 2015
Thanks @arvindkejriwal for Iftar invitation on Sun. Good wishes. As I am in Kol, my colleagues Derek & Sukhendu will be there
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 11, 2015
.@ArvindKejriwal We will meet next time in Delhi
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 11, 2015
In another tweets the Bengal CM even thanked Sonia Gandhi for her iftar party invite and wrote - "Thank you Sonia Gandhiji for your invitation to Iftar on Monday. My good wishes. As I am in Kol, Derek O'Brien will be in Del on our behalf."
Thank you Sonia Gandhiji for your invitation to Iftar on Monday. My good wishes. As I am in Kol, Derek O'Brien will be in Del on our behalf
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 11, 2015
"@MamataOfficial Thank u Mamta Di. I wish u cud come. We will miss u," Kejriwal promptly responded by tweeting.
.@MamataOfficial Thank u Mamta Di. I wish u cud come. We will miss u.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 11, 2015
According to reports, Sonia Gandhi has also invited leaders from all non-BJP aligned parties for an Iftar dinner, to be held on Monday, in an attempt to show the message of opposition unity, including those from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), along with the leaders of allies Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and National Conference (NC).
(With Agency inputs)
