Sonia Gandhi on Vacay in Goa While Rahul Runs the Show in Delhi

The Congress matriarch “was seen in a relaxed mood” and clicked selfies with other tourists.

Sonia Gandhi in Goa (left); newly appointed Congress president Rahul Gandhi

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A few weeks after handing over the party reins to her son Rahul Gandhi, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was spotted vacationing in south Goa, reported CNN News18. She is expected to return to Delhi in the first week of January.

Sonia Gandhi was at the helm of the party's affairs for around 19 years, and passed on the baton to Rahul after the conclusion of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls earlier in December.

Sonia Gandhi with a guest at the Leela resort in south Goa.

The news channel said that Sonia, who has put off holidays in order to concentrate on party work, “was seen in a relaxed mood” as she interacted with other tourists and even rode a bicycle at the Leela resort where she is currently staying.

She even took selfies with other guests.

CNN-News18, quoting its sources, said that Sonia Gandhi is spending time with her close friends. She is practising yoga and reading books, but keeping away from watching or tracking news.

Meanwhile the new Congress chief, Rahul Gandhi, has been reviewing his party’s performance in the Assembly polls. The Congress had won 80 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly and 21 seats in Himachal Pradesh.

He said that the Congress has accepted the people’s verdict in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and had thanked his party workers for fighting “anger with dignity” during the polls.

He also expressed gratitude to the people of the two states for the love they showered on him.

The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me.

Rahul Gandhi

"My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought, because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congress' greatest strength is its decency and courage,” he added.