Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj exchange a few cordial words amid deepening rancour

NEW DELHI: It’s an association that reminds one of a Chinese sauce: Over a decade, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj have shared a sweet and sour relationship. On Tuesday, Gandhi and Swaraj surprised everyone, once again, by having a few cordial moments in Parliament’s Central Hall amid deepening rancour between the sides they represent.

Gandhi made the first move, tapping Swaraj on her shoulder and hugging her when she turned around to smile. The political foes then walked together a few steps, leaving behind personal hostilities. The friendly encounter soon after the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day, following the Opposition’s uproar, however, did not end the face off between government and BJP.

The relations between Gandhi and Swaraj had soured in the ongoing session. Swaraj accused Gandhi of instigating Congress MPs to disrupt her speech and vowed to boycott meetings convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Speaker Meira Kumar. Swaraj had contested the 1999 polls against Gandhi in Bellary and in 2004 threatened to shave off her head if she became PM. But Swaraj has mellowed down and had even described Gandhi as a respected rival.