Patna: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav will attend a dinner to be hosted by Sonia Gandhi next week.

Since Lalu Prasad's conviction in a fodder scam case, leader of Opposition Tejashwi has been leading his party from the front. At present, he is busy campaigning for the three upcoming bypolls in Araria, Jehanabad and Bhabua.

"Sonia ji called me and invited me for the dinner in New Delhi on March 13 and I have given my consent to attend the dinner," Tejashwi told The Telegraph over phone from Bhabua on Friday where he went to campaign for the Congress candidate.

This would be the first time Tejashwi would be at a dinner with all the 17 opposition parties. Last time Sonia hosted a lunch in May 2017, Lalu had attended the meeting.

The March 13 dinner-meeting of the opposition parties is crucial amid souring relations between the BJP and the Telugu Desam Party over the demand for special status.

Sources in the Congress said the meeting is aimed at forming an united front against the BJP. On the dinner, Tejashwi said: "It is one step further to unite all the opposition parties and bring them under one umbrella to attack the government at the Centre. The meeting will also be an opportunity for the opposition parties to be united in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections."

The dinner will be hosted on the eve of the bypoll results.

Tejashwi said he would inform Sonia about the current situation of Bihar politics and how things have been changing since chief minister Nitish Kumar ditched the people's mandate. He also praised Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said he had all the potential and calibre to lead the country.

"I am in constant touch with Rahul Gandhi ji and we share a lot of things together. I must tell you he has all the ability to become the Prime Minister and people are praising his work attitude," Tejashwi said.