Sonia Gandhi leaves Varanasi roadshow due to fever

VARANASI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today had to leave the party's impressive roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency towards the fag end of the eight-km march route this evening after she complained of uneasiness.

According to Congress sources, Gandhi, 69 , who led the roadshow to launch the party's campaign for 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh from Modi's turf, was returning to Delhi and cancelled her planned visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the evening to offer prayers.

The sources said that Gandhi was suffering from viral fever but had decided to go ahead with the roadshow as she was not inclined to cancel it at the last minute.

The roadshow, which continued for about three hours, was halted for sometime at the Lohurabir roundabout near the fag end of the eight-km march route from the Circuit House to Englishiya Line. The roadshow later proceeded without Gandhi.

The sources said Gandhi complained of uneasiness and after taking rest for sometime, she left the area.

Heard about Sonia ji’s ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 2, 2016

Thousands of Congress supporters and workers took part in the roadshow.

It was Gandhi's first visit to Varanasi after Modi became Prime Minister in May 2014.

After Sonia Gandhi took ill during roadshow in Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi prayed for her quick recovery and good health.

"Heard about Sonia ji's ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health," he tweeted.