Najeeb Jung, Sheila Dikshit, Vijende Gupta skip iftar party organised by AAP

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (from right), vice-president Hamid Ansari and deputy CM Manish Sisodia at an iftar party in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo: Bunny Smith)

Lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta on Thursday skipped the iftar party organised by the AAP government.

Vice-president Hamid Ansari was the sole VIP face to have graced the occasion this time around. Mr Ansari stayed at the event, organised by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, for nearly 10 minutes.

Apart from Mr Jung, Ms Dikshit, representatives from parties such as Trinamul Congress and a number of top diplomats had also attended the annual occasion last year.

The image of Mr Kejriwal, Mr Jung and Ms Dikshit sitting together had received much attention during last year’s iftar party.

Asked about the absence of Mr Jung, Mr Gupta, deputy chief Minister Manish Sisodia played down their absence from the event this year, saying it may have been due to their personal reasons.

“They may have their own reasons but the invitations had reached everyone. I had also spoken to each of them individually,” Mr Sisodia told reporters.

Mr Kejriwal sported a skullcap for the event and welcomed his prominent guest, including Mr Ansari. Mr Ansari was dressed in the traditional outfit, while Mr Sisodia also sported a skullcap for the event.

Along with Mr Gupta, two other BJP legislators — Om Prakash Sharma and Jagdish Pradahan — in the 70-member Assembly also skipped the event.

The iftar party was held in an open ground of Indira Gandhi Stadium which witnessed thousands of people attending the event, perhaps it is biggest iftar party held by the state government.

At the iftar party, all AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh, Kumar Viswas, all Cabinet ministers and MLAs were present.

Heavy rains also played a spoilsport disrupting the arrangements made by the city administration. Chairs put up in open ground were lying unused as they were drenched in rains.