New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh announced that the INDIA bloc had not initially received any invitations and, therefore, would not be attending the swearing-in ceremony. During a press conference, Ramesh noted that only international leaders were invited.

However, it emerged late Saturday night that the INDIA bloc began receiving invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. According to media reports, a senior leader mentioned, "Since we got the invitation late night, a decision will be taken on Sunday morning."

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi, newly re-elected as Congress Chairperson, praised her party members for their performance in the Lok Sabha elections and questioned the NDA's right to form the government. She stated, "The Prime Minister, who sought the mandate solely in his name, excluding both his party and its allies, has suffered a political and moral defeat. In reality, he has lost the mandate he sought and thereby lost the right to leadership as well. Yet, far from taking responsibility for failure, he intends to get himself sworn in again."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met after the extended Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Saturday evening that she had not received any invitation for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony and stated that even if she did, she would not attend. Banerjee remarked, "I have not received the invitation, nor will I go."

She further asserted that her party would not attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. Banerjee criticized the BJP, saying, "The BJP is forming the government undemocratically and illegally. Today the INDIA bloc may not have staked a claim to form the government, but that doesn't mean tomorrow it won't stake a claim. Let’s wait for some time."

Banerjee expressed her desire to see the central government lose power, describing it as "unstable and weak." Additionally, she mentioned that TMC MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha would seek the repeal of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).