Sonia falls sick, misses Varanasi rally

The Congress’ efforts in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s largest state, simple fail to take off. A few days after its chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit got indisposed while campaigning in the state, party president Sonia Gandhi took ill on Tuesday, resulting in the cancelation of her road show in Varanasi. She was reportedly running high fever.

Sonia had chosen Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, to begin the campaign for UP, where Assembly polls are scheduled early next year. She stood in an SUV for hours. The exertion, apparently, proved too much for the 69-year-old leader.

She could not address a rally near Englishiya Line. She also canceled a visit to Kashi Vishwanath. The party’s UP chief Raj Babbar and other leaders attended the rally.

The Prime Minister wished Sonia Gandhi a quick recovery in a tweet: “Heard about Soniaji’s ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health.”