Former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Atal Behari Vajpayee and BJPs leader in Rajya Sabha Sikander Bakht were among those who attended. When asked whether Kesari was invited, a government official, said Rao was present and therefore Congress was represented there. He however neither confirmed nor denied that Kesari was invited for the Lunch.
A staff at Kesaris residence said that only the Congress president would know if he was invited. He said Kesari was busy in a meeting and therefore was not in a position to take the call.