Sonia makes first public appearance, chairs CEC meeting

New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) Rendered out of action for over
a month by her illness, Indian National Congress President
Sonia Gandhi Thursday made her first public appearance before
a group of top party leaders bringing cheer to them and to the
rank and file.
Gandhi, who had undergone a surgery in the US last
month, was her usual self Thursday, chairing the Central
Election Committee meeting that discussed names of 98
candidates and finalized 70 for Assembly elections in north
Indian state Uttar Pradesh.
It was her first such interaction with party leaders
after she arrived here on September 8 after having undergone
surgery for an undisclosed ailment in the US on August 4.
Party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "Gandhi
participated in the meeting today happily and normally as she
used to do earlier. Like in the past, Gandhi came out of her
house to welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and see him off
after the 65-minute-long meeting. She discussed issues as she
used to do earlier."
Dwivedi recalled that soon after coming back here, Gandhi
had begun going through papers related to party work.
"She is normally quite fine but as per the doctor's
advice it will take her some time to resume all the work she
earlier did. It will take her a little more time to fully
recover," the Congress media department chief said.
Congress general secretary in charge of UP Digvijay
Singh said Gandhi was looking "quite happy and actively
participated in the meeting. Nobody could make out that she
has undergone any operation. Touchwood, she was looking quite
good".
The CEC meeting was attended among others by All India
Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi,
senior ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, Congress
President's political secretary Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi.