Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Congress Parliamentary Party, was scheduled to preside over a meeting of party MPs in Parliament at 10.15 am, and signals had even been sent to certain MPs indicating that she could attend. However, there was a last-minute change of heart.
The former president of the Congress, Sonia Gandhi, was said to have left for Rajasthan to be with her son, party MP Rahul Gandhi, who is conducting the Bharat Jodo Yatra across the state, according to a message from 10, Janpath.
On Thursday morning, the majority of Congress members were already riveted to their televisions, watching the results of the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
Later, it was discovered that Sonia Gandhi had left for Jaipur on her way to Ranthambore, where she will spend Friday celebrating her 76th birthday with her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, at a resort run by a close family friend.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra has a day of rest on Friday. Priyanka has also arrived in Rajasthan.
While the Congress was destroyed in Gujarat, Priyanka had a bittersweet victory when the party won back power in Himachal Pradesh, where she had directed the party’s campaign.
On Thursday, there was no nighttime portion of the yatra. The yatra is divided into two sections: a morning march of 13 to 14 kilometres lasting from 6.30 am to 10.30 am, followed by a five-hour respite; and an evening march of 7 to 8 miles, or possibly up to 10 km.
Rahul was in Kota on Thursday, and according to accounts, the yatris walked 24 kilometres in the morning alone. Rahul then took a helicopter from Bundi to Ranthambore.
The Gandhis are staying in Sujan Sher Bagh, an opulent resort close to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve that is run by the Gandhis’ family friends Anjali and Jaisal Singh. In reality, the couple and Priyanka collaborated in the writing of the book “Ranthambhore: The Tiger’s Realm.”
Sonia is reportedly visiting Rajasthan for four days.
Sonia travelled to Sawai Madhopur via helicopter after leaving Jaipur. A short while later, she was joined at the resort by Rahul and Priyanka. According to sources, Sonia will take part in the yatra on December 10, a day set aside for female participants, as well as maybe Priyanka.
Even though the family wants to keep Sonia’s birthday celebrations private, sources indicated that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot would visit to Ranthambore tomorrow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended wishes for the former Congress President on Twitter.
The yatra began at Surymukhi Hanuman Temple on Thursday and ended in Bhadana Village in Kota. At Gurli village in Bundi, the yatris will spend the night.
