Union Minister and leader of the Republican Party of India (A), Ramdas Athawale, wished Congress President Rahul Gandhi on the latter's birthday, in the Lok Sabha. Athawale's subsequent comments left the House in splits. He said that when the United Progressive Alliance was in power, he used to support the Congress, and claimed that he was also invited to the Opposition camp ahead of elections. But, Athawale added, since there was a Modi wave, he didn't switch sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi were seen laughing at the comments by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.