Rahul Gandhi and Gautam Adani in the same frame of a picture not taken

In politics, optics matter as much as words. That reality played out at NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's birthday bash, where Rahul Gandhi and industrialist Gautam Adani, who has been at the Congress MP's crosshairs, came face-to-face and even shook hands, but it was ensured that no photos of the encounter became public. Thus, while images of Rahul with Pawar and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy came out, photos of the Congress MP and Adani were conspicuously missing.

The high-profile dinner was held on December 11 as Pawar turned 85. The birthday bash of Pawar, whose relationships span the political spectrum, invited politicians cutting across party lines, brought together an eclectic mix of senior politicians, from his politically estranged nephew Ajit Pawar to the Gandhis, and business leaders.

Among those who attended the dinner was Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani, who has relentlessly been targeted by Rahul over alleged corruption and creating monopolies in various sectors in collusion with the BJP. However, the highlight of the evening was Rahul and Adani sharing the same frame.

Speaking in The Lallantop's Netanagri, senior journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Aadesh Rawal said Rahul and Adani met and shook hands as well.

"It was the first time I saw Rahul and Adani come face to face. But surprisingly, no photo of them ever came out," Sardesai said.

Rawal said at that time Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule intervened, and ensured no pictures of the Rahul-Adani handshake were taken. "Supriya Sule ensured nobody took pictures of their meeting. She understood what its repercussions could have been," Rawal said.

In fact, such an explosive image, of Rahul and Adani sharing a frame, would have sharply undercut the Congress's narrative against the conglomerate and become a political flashpoint. It would have invited uncomfortable questions for the Congress from both political rivals and allies.

BJP TAKES POTSHOTS

While there may be no visual record of the Rahul-Adani meet, the BJP was quick to pounce on the issue and take potshots at the Congress.

"After screeching and howling against Adani from every available rooftop, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra are seen here, happily enjoying the dinner by Sharad Pawar, in the company of Gautam Adani, himself," tweeted BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also took a swipe at the Congress's "hypocrisy".

"Rahul Gandhi routinely attacks India's leading entrepreneurs, especially Adani and Ambani, questioning their success and belittling the very ecosystem that creates jobs and drives growth. Yet, the same business leaders he criticises from public platforms are often present at the elite gatherings he attends," Malviya posted.

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