Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday, which her party described as a “private visit” to escape the air pollution in Delhi. The two were accompanied by All India Congress Committee general secretary K C Venugopal.
On Wednesday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 392, which is in “severe category”.
“It is a private visit. There is air pollution in Delhi, that’s why,” Venugopal said in Hindi when reporters at the airport asked him about the reason for Sonia Gandhi’s visit to poll-bound Rajasthan.
The visit comes amid the campaign for the November 25 elections, where the Congress hopes to return to power.
Venugopal also indicated that there could be party meetings in another question. He said the party is sure of its success. “We are confident that we are going to win,” he said.
Further, he dismissed a reporter’s observation that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have not been seen campaigning together. “Just wait,” Venugopal said, asserting that all Congress leaders are together, reports PTI.
After the party came to power in 2018, Gehlot and Pilot have been locked in a power tussle. However, the differences are not out in the open, ahead of the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, “Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi is in Jaipur for the next few days to avoid the air pollution in New Delhi. It is a purely personal visit.”
He said that Rahul Gandhi will be based in Jaipur and campaign in Chhattisgarh on November 15 and in Rajasthan on November 16, 19, 21 and 22.