A photo of Sonia Gandhi in Goa riding a bicycle and smiling is being widely shared after actor Riteish Deshmukh tweeted it on Thursday morning.
Sonia, 71, became the Congress party president in 1998 and has lead India’s grand old party for 19 years, making her the longest serving party president. Just ahead of the announcement of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi was anointed as the new party chief after he was elected to the post withiut any opposition.
Some pictures make you happy... this is one of them.
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 28, 2017
Wishing Sonia ji happiness and best of health. pic.twitter.com/SSITMjOnCD
Sonia wasn’t present at the Congress's 133rd Foundation Day Celebration on Thursday as party’s new president Rahul Gandhi addressed the meet.
Rahul Gandhi, 47, took over as Congress chief on December 16 from his mother, who had retreated somewhat from active party work on account of her poor health. "He is my son, and it would not be suitable for me to praise him," said Sonia Gandhi, addressing the party for the last time as its chief.
Right after becoming the new Congress boss, Rahul Gandhi was left to deal with two more state election defeats for the party - in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. He has held meetings to review the party's performance. Unlike last year, when he was criticized for taking a New Year holiday in the middle of opposition protests against demonetization, this year he is staying in town.