Key Congress meet today; Sonia, Rahul and ministers travel by bus

Congress' top leadership will hold a day-long brainstorming session in Surajkund bordering Delhi, to discuss political and economic challenges ahead of the winter session of parliament and as the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 begins.

Nov 09, 2012 09:10 IST

It's a day-long brainstorming session of the Congress to discuss political and economic challenges ahead of the winter session of parliament. And everyone, other than the Prime Minister was to travel to the venue in Surajkund bordering Delhi in buses. Seen here are the buses that lined up outside the Congress office headquarters early this morning to pick up the ministers

Amongst those who arrived early were P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ajay Maken. Mr Chidambaram, will start a debate on the economic situation later in the day at this brainstorming session.
Sonia Gandhi, wrapped in a beige embroidered shawl to counter the early morning chill in Delhi, was not slated to ride on the bus. Neither was Rahul Gandhi. But they too got onto a bus to head to Surajkund.
It was earlier believed that Mrs Gandhi would travel in a private vehicle with her security personnel. However this morning she walked out to a parked bus with son Rahul and sat.

Seen here is Congress General Secretary BK Hariprasad directing members to the buses.
Everyone including senior central ministers had been instructed to leave behind their visible sign of power - lal batti-fitted government cars - and travel together in buses, the aam admi's means of transport.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi started off the proceedings with her opening remarks, meant to be an assessment of the current political situation.

The Congress leadership has shortlisted three key issues - the current political situation, economic challenges and its track record in fulfilling poll promises - as its agenda for the meet.
Seen here Rahul Gandhi next to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.