Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was surprised in his US visit, when he received a special gift from an artist portraying his mother Sonia Gandhi.

Sarita Pandey who is also a media and communications professional and an artist said on twitter that she gifted Gandhi a charcoal and watercolor painting of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. It was an emotional moment for Rahul as Pandey handed over the painting him. She said it was a gift from one mother to another mother. Gandhi responded to the tweet, saying that he will pass on the painting to his mother.

On Twitter, users commented, where one user said the painting was lovely. Another said it was a beautiful painting with a beautiful message. The users seem unstoppable in praising the artistic talent of Pandey. Another user applauded her thought behind the painting.

Meanwhile Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US has got mixed reactions of skepticism, curiosity  and excitement. During his three city US tour his reactions and public appearances have made headlines. He attacked the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for using all its strength to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra – a 4000 km long unity march he led across the nation over the course of five months.

He accused the BJP government of using the central agencies in weakening the health of democracy in the country. He said the Central government was attacking the democratic institutions of the nation in a planned systematic way.

The Congress leader during the 10 days of his visit to the United States, which started in the end of last month, delivered his address in the Washington Press Club, Stanford University, a public event among others. The leader also interacted with business leaders, experts in various fields, politicians and others.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday, announced Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as the new working presidents of NCP. The announcement was made by Pawar in the presence of Ajit Pawar at the 25th anniversary of the party.

The Nationalist Congress Party was formed by Sharad Pawar and Former Meghalaya CM and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma in 1999.

After a month of withdrawing his resignation, NCP chief Sharad Pawar named Sule and Patel as the NCP’s working presidents. The NCP chief withdrew his resignation after the party workers protested against his decision.

Speaking to the media about the new NCP working presidents, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said Supriya Sule and Praful Patel have been made the working presidents so that the election work and Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha work can be divided. He added, the NCP working presidents have been allotted more responsibilities on their shoulders as the elections are near. This is for handling the 2024 Lok Sabha election work, he continued.

Earlier while withdrawing his resignation, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had asserted that he looks forward to do more in the fields of agriculture, cooperation, education, sports, culture amongst other. Furthermore, he also had affirmed that he would focus on issues related to the youth, student workers, Dalit, Tribals and other weaker sections of the society.

Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar has been involved in NCP’s major decision as the party’s top brass. Sule came into active politics with her election as Rajya Sabha MP in September 2006. In 2009, she took over the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, which was represented by Sharad Pawar until then. Considering Sule’s role in politics in recent days, it is seen that she keeps a hectic travel calendar across several districts in short spans and attends all programs.

On the other hand, Praful Patel is the son of Indian National Congress politician Manoharbhai Patel. Patel followed his father footstep and entered into politics. Currently, he is the member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and was elected to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabha three times in a row. In between 2000-2006, Praful Patel was re-elected twice to the Rajya Sabha. Furthermore, he has also served on a number of parliamentary committees throughout his career in politics.

After announcing the new NCP working presidents, Sharad Pawar in a press conference affirmed that he will discuss alliance with opposition parties and will work together for the Lok Sabha polls. Pawar also confirmed the party’s participation in the opposition meet in Bihar. Speaking about snubbing Ajit Pawar, the NCP Chief said that the former will not be unhappy. Sharad Pawar has groomed many young leaders namely Supriy Sule, nephew Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, who are now the party’s frontline leaders.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed his confidence over Congress winning the assembly election in the state later this year and has targeted BJP saying, it will lose because of communally sensitive remarks.

Gehlot said the Congress will continue its winning streak in Rajasthan assembly elections as well after Karnataka victory. He added, BJP makes communally sensitive statements which will go against them. He said the people of Rajasthan have seen the growth and development in the state and the Congress party will come back to power again in the upcoming assembly elections.

He said, BJP leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah raised religious slogans which did not work in Karnataka. He said people want growth and development and they cannot be fooled in the name of religion. He said, the BJP had mentioned chanted Lord Bajrang Bali’s name in Karnataka. He further added he had complained to the election commission regarding this issue. He said this was a crime and this mentality should not be encouraged.

The Rajasthan CM further said the Congress has put a strong model of governance infrastructure before the people of Rajasthan and this will help them to win against the aggressive BJP campaigning in the state. He listed the achievements of the government of Rajasthan in issues like roads, welfare of daughters, water, health, infrastructure and education. He promised 1lakh km of roads will be built within the state. He said pensions were being given to 1 crore people in the state.

He further added, he had requested PM Modi to bring a national social security legislation similar to Rahul Gandhi’s NYAY scheme. He recounted four laws passed by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party chief Sonia Gandhi – Right To Information(RTI), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Food Security Act and the Right Of Children Of Free and Compulsory Education Act.

Distancing himself from commenting on the ongoing strife with the Sachin Pilot, Gehlot said it is an internal party issue and will be solved internally.