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Politics over Tea: How a 1999 High-Tea Party Led to the Fall of the Vajpayee Government
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News18•13-10-2026, 09:46
Politics over Tea: How a 1999 High-Tea Party Led to the Fall of the Vajpayee Government
- •Rahul Gandhi is hosting a high-tea meeting for opposition MPs and civil society members amid protests against the Chief Election Commissioner.
- •Indian political history recalls a famous tea party in 1998-99 hosted by Subramanian Swamy that brought Sonia Gandhi and Jayalalithaa together.
- •Jayalalithaa withdrew support from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in April 1999 following political tensions and coalition friction.
- •The Vajpayee government fell after losing a confidence motion in the Lok Sabha by a single vote on April 17, 1999.
- •Following mid-term elections, Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned to power and was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time on October 13, 1999.
Key Questions Answered
Rahul Gandhi is hosting a high-tea meeting at his Sunehri Bagh residence to meet with opposition MPs and civil society members to discuss future strategies against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Subramanian Swamy hosted a tea party bringing together Sonia Gandhi and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa. Shortly after this meeting, Jayalalithaa withdrew her party's support from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, causing it to lose its majority and fall in April 1999.
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government lost the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 1999, by a single vote, receiving 269 votes in favor against 270 opposing votes.
