Mallikarjun Kharge set to join Sonia Gandhi on Cong’s yatra, says DKS

MYSURU: AICC interim president Sonia Gandhi arrived in Mysuru on Monday to participate in the Karnataka leg of the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra led by her son Rahul Gandhi. Sonia, who checked into a resort in Bandipur, about 80km from Mysuru, will take part in the padayatra when it resumes after a two-day break on October 5.
“Sonia Gandhi recently travelled abroad for a medical checkup. She needs some rest before taking part in the yatra,” said a party member.
Sonia was scheduled to visit Kodagu for a couple of days but changed plans — largely due to inclement weather — and instead travelled to Bandipur national park after arriving in Mysuru around noon.
She was received by Karnataka PCC chief DK Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, and a host of other party functionaries in Mysuru.
Shivakumar said Mallikarjun Kharge, who is contesting for AICC president, will meet Sonia during her two-day stay in Bandipur. He is also likely to participate in the yatra along with Sonia.
AICC general secretaryPriyanka Gandhi is scheduled to land in Karnataka on Thursday and will participate in the yatra on Friday. She is expected to join the yatra at Nagamangala and later visit the Sri Adichunchanagiri mutt, the biggest mutt of the Vokkaliga community.
This will be the first time all three Gandhis will be at Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began at Kanyakumari on September 7.