Sonia arrives in Lucknow en route to Rae Bareli

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

Ms Gandhi'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.

Ms Gandhi 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 Steel 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 Ms Gandhi to the Rae Bareli border.

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

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

Ms Gandhi 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.

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