Sonia Gandhi has quiet 66th birthday

Congress president Sonia Gandhi spent a quiet 66th birthday Sunday while her party workers distributed sweets and burst firecrackers to celebrate the occasion.

“She did not meet anybody,” a Congress source told IANS.

Gandhi, who addressed poll rallies in Gujarat Friday for the Dec 13 first phase of assembly polls, preferred to spend the day quietly, the source added.

A large number of supporters had gathered outside her official 10, Janpath residence with flowers, bouquets and sweets. Many Congress workers were seen dancing to the beat of drums to mark Gandhi’s birthday.

The birthday celebrations come two days after the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won a parliamentary vote on the issue of allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, a decision criticized by the opposition and some of the Congress’ supporting parties.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several union ministers and senior party leaders had greeted Gandhi on Saturday evening as the party president had some engagements Sunday, the source added.