Slow but steady,Sonia returns to political routine

On Friday,she met DMK leader TR Baalu,who conveyed his party leader M Karunanidhis wishes. It is a great opportunity to receive the blessings of a senior leader like Karunanidhi, Baalu later quoted Sonia as saying. He said no politics was discussed.

Party leaders said Sonias gradual return to normal routine invalidates the talk that she would slowly withdraw from active politics to make way for son and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi. In fact,just over a week after her return from the US,she decided to attend a Central Election Committee meeting to decide candidates for the UP polls.

Top sources said that after she landed here on September 8,among those whom she met within a couple of days were PM Manmohan Singh,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,Defence Minister A K Antony and her political secretary Ahmed Patel. After being briefed,she decided to attend the CEC meeting.

Sonias move to meet Ashok Chavan,who had to step down following the Adarsh housing scam,is being viewed with interest with the interpretation that he may be rehabilitated either in the Centre or the state soon.