Sonia Gandhi arrives in Lucknow

Lucknow, Mar 28: Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived here today (Mar 28, 2006) en route to Rae Bareli -- the parliamentary constituency she represented before resigning from her Lok Sabha seat following the office of profit controversy.

Sonia's flight from New Delhi touched down Lucknow's Amausi Airport around 1030 hrs. Soon thereafter, she boarded a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) -- SPG men in tow -- and was driven out of the airport premises.

Sonia had impromptu interactions with her avid supporters, who had collected at several spots along her route. She was greeted with pro-Sonia slogans and showered with petals.

The AICC chief is accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Congress president Salman Khurshid, Union Minister of state for Steels Akhilesh Das and AICC member and in charge of Congress' UP affairs Ashok Gehlot.

However, the three leaders would return to the state capital after escorting Sonia to the Rae Bareli border.

A mammoth cavalcade of around 100 vehicles including supporters, Congress leaders and mediapersons are travelling with Sonia.

This is her maiden visit to Rae Bareli after resigning from her LS seat and the National Advisory Council chairperson post in wake of the opposition campaign over her occupying an office of profit.

Sonia will address a rally at the Government Inter College ground in her former constituency of Rae Bareli, where she is also expected to announce her decision to contest the bypoll.

Her aide K L Sharma said in Rae Bareli that a new slogan 'Soniaji ki pehchan, tyag, tapasya aur balidan' (Sonia's symbol: renunciation, hard work and sacrifice) would mark her one-day visit.

A resolution moved by former Congress MLA Indresh Vikram Singh at the Rae Bareli district Congress committee meet on Saturday urging the Election Commission to hold byelections to Rae Bareli LS constituency at the earliest was passed unanimously.

UNI