New Delhi: There were no signs of thaw in the bitter ties between the bureaucracy and the AAP government, as all senior officials stayed away from the Iftar party hosted by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday evening.

The party at the Palika Services Officers Institute in the Chanakyapuri area remained a low-key affair, as most of the prominent invitees, including lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal and former chief minister Shiela Dikshit, choose to give it a miss.

Chief secretary Anshu Prakash and other senior officials did not attend the event.

Several AAP MLAs were also conspicuous by their absence.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and ministers Imran Hussain, Satyendra Jain and Gopal Rai were among those who attended it.

Addressing the media after Iftar, Kejriwal said some forces were trying to divide the nation on religious lines.

The Delhi government under Kejriwal has had frequent run-ins with the police and the bureaucracy.

The latest flashpoint was the alleged attack on Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers at Kejriwal’s residence in February.