An unexpected 88-minute closed-door meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence has become the subject of intense curiosity across political circles. On Tuesday, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as part of the high-level panel responsible for selecting the new Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners, and a Vigilance Commissioner.
While the meeting was officially convened to finalise key appointments to the Central Information Commission—currently crippled by vacancies and more than 31,000 pending RTI applications—the unusually long duration of the interaction has set off speculation among parliamentarians. Many noted that it is rare for Rahul Gandhi to spend nearly an hour and a half inside the PMO for any formal engagement, drawing questions about what conversations may have unfolded beyond the agenda.
Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have submitted a strong dissent note during the meeting, objecting to the government’s proposed list of candidates. His objections reportedly focused on inadequate representation from marginalised and minority communities, along with insufficient time to vet the shortlisted names.
Though the government maintains that the meeting strictly followed procedural requirements, the Opposition believes that the length of the conversation signals deeper disagreements over institutional independence and transparency.
As the final list of appointees is still awaited, curiosity continues to simmer within Parliament. What exactly transpired during those 88 minutes at the PMO remains a matter of speculation—fueling discussions across party lines and adding a fresh layer of intrigue to the ongoing political tussle over the autonomy of oversight bodies.