Sonia Gandhi Likely To Join Bharat Jodo Yatra On Monday As Part Of 'Mahila Shakti Padyatra': Ramesh

When asked if Sonia Gandhi will join the yatra, Jairam said she is in Rajasthan on a private visit. On Monday, Sawai Madhopur will host a 'Mahila Shakti Padyatra,' with only women participating.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan on Monday as part of the party's 'Mahila Shakti Padyatra,' senior leader and general secretary of the party Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

Sonia Gandhi is celebrating her 76th birthday in Rajasthan with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

During a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Ramesh also unveiled two short videos underlining the yatra's underlying themes of economic hardship and unity.

"Three themes have been underlined in the yatra: economic disparities, social polarisation, and political dictatorship," Jairam Ramesh remarked during the conference.

When asked if Sonia Gandhi will join the yatra, the Congress national secretary in charge of media replied she is in Rajasthan on a private visit.

"She is celebrating her 76th birthday today. We all, the nation and the party join in wishing her a long, healthy life...It is possible that she would join (the yatra) on the 12th (December). Public personalities are entitled to private moments and I would urge you to respect their privacy," Ramesh said, PTI reported. 

On December 12, there will be a 'Mahila Shakti Padyatra' in the Sawai Madhopur district, with only women walking in the yatra, according to Ramesh.

Sonia Gandhi only participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra once. In October, she walked beside Rahul Gandhi in Mandya, Karnataka.

According to Ramesh, Rahul Gandhi will hold a press conference in Alwar on December 18, and the party will also hold a large public assembly the following day.

He stated that the yatra will arrive in Delhi on December 24, followed by a break during which the containers in which the 'yatris' have been sleeping will be maintained and equipped for winter.

He stated that the Yatra will continue in Delhi on January 2 or 3 and will then proceed across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and, Jammu and Kashmir.

When asked if Rahul Gandhi will attend the Parliament session after the yatra arrives in Delhi on December 24, Ramesh said, "It is natural that when he is in Delhi, and Parliament is going on, then he will attend".

Parliament's winter session began on December 7 and will end on December 29.

(With Inputs From PTI)