Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi held an unusually long meeting inside India’s Parliament, sparking widespread political speculation. Official sources said the discussion centered on the appointment of a new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), a post vacant since September following Hiralal Samariya’s retirement. The extended duration of the meeting, however, has prompted questions about whether broader political issues were also discussed.

Under India’s constitutional framework, the CIC is selected by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, a minister nominated by him, and the Opposition Leader. Sources indicate that Gandhi rejected all proposed names and submitted written objections, continuing his pattern of challenging key appointments. The vacancy has left only two commissioners managing a backlog of around 31,000 pending Right to Information (RTI) cases.

Opposition parties accuse the government of deliberately delaying the appointment, undermining transparency and citizens’ access to information. Analysts suggest the meeting may have also touched on parliamentary deadlock, controversial bills, and economic concerns. No official statement was issued, leaving the true scope of the discussion uncertain.