Sonia on 'private visit' to Jaipur to escape Delhi pollution, Rahul's rallies on Nov 16

The visit comes amid the campaign for the November 25 assembly polls in Rajasthan, where the Congress hopes to return to power.

Venugopal said the party is sure of its success. "We are confident that we are going to win," he said.

He dismissed a reporter's observation that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have not been seen campaigning together. "Just wait," Venugopal said, asserting that all Congress leaders are together.

Gehlot and Pilot were locked in a power tussle after the party came to power in the state five years ago. They now appear to have put their differences on hold.

Later, in a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi is in Jaipur for the next few days to avoid the air pollution in New Delhi. It is a purely personal visit." He said that Rahul Gandhi will be based in Jaipur and campaign in Chhattisgarh on November 15 and in Rajasthan on November 16, 19, 21 and 22.

A party spokesperson said Sonia Gandhi has come from Delhi on a four-day visit due to health issues, a reference to Venugopal's remark on air pollution.

Her son Rahul Gandhi came from Madhya Pradesh, where he had campaigned in the assembly polls there, and was scheduled to leave Jaipur on Wednesday morning. He will be back again in Rajasthan on Thursday to address election rallies in Tara Nagar (Churu), Nohar (Hanumangarh) and Sadulshahar (Sriganganagar) that day, the party said.

These will be Gandhi's first public meetings after the announcement of elections. In September, he held a party workers meeting after laying the foundation stone for a Congress office building in Jaipur's Mansarovar area.

In recent weeks, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has addressed public rallies in Niwai (Tonk), Sikrai (Dausa) and Jhunjhunu. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also addressed meetings in Baran and Jodhpur.