Mandya, Oct 6 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mandya district of BJP ruled Karnataka and walked along with Rahul Gandhi and others for some distance.
Hundreds thronged the roads, shouting slogans in support of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. A large number of women lined the streets, waiting for a glimpse of the Congress leader.
The Congress President, who has been unwell, and recently recovered from Covid, walked with the Yatra for some distance, and then got in a car. She got down from the car again after some distance and walked with the other Yatris.
Enthusiastic supporters shouted slogans hailing Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, as her car inched amid swelling crowd. At one point during the march, Rahul Gandhi was seen tying his mother's shoelaces, a photo of which was tweeted by the Congress.
"Congress President Sonia Gandhi walked with Rahul Gandhi & padayatris between Jakkanahalli & Karadya in Mandya district. Her programme was for only 30 mins. She stayed with Bharat Jodo Yatra for two hours, energised by support of people of Karnataka & in turn strengthening our resolve," Congress' General Secretary Communication Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.
Rahul Gandhi also tweeted a photo with his mother and said, "...we will fight all challenges united, we will bring India together again".
Party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, on a similar note, said, "The whole country will be united in one thread, will move forward strongly."
The interim Congress President had promised to participate in the Yatra during the Udaipur chintan shivir when the march was first announced.
This was her first public outing since her recovery from a Covid infection earlier this year.
Asked about the impact of the Congress President 's participation in the Yatra, Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar said Congress' era would start again.
"Our era will start again. We are very proud Sonia Gandhi has come to walk on the streets of Karnataka. We are welcoming her".
He also said the Congress is set to come to power in Karnataka.
"We are on our way to power in Karnataka. BJP will soon shut shop..." he said.
The Yatra resumed on Thursday after a two day break on account of Dusshera. The Yatra has so far covered over 600 kms in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra was launched at Kanyakumari on September 7, and the foot march started from the morning of September 8.
The Yatra will cover a distance of 3500 kilometres, crossing 12 states and two union territories, over a period of around five months.
UNI AO BAV