‘Awed by his charm’: How Rahul Gandhi, mom Sonia’s no-frills private lunch impressed Goa

Away from limelight and bitter political rivalry, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi enjoyed a quiet and private lunch at a popular restaurant in Goa recently. Patrons of Fisherman's Wharf were taken aback when they noticed the VVIP mother-son duo. Though it is known that the Gandhis are in Goa for their three-day holiday, the seafood lunch hit national headlines after a patron posted her photo with Rahul Gandhi on Instagram on Sunday. Dressed in blue t-shirt and smiling, Gandhi looked visibly relaxed. Rachna Fernandes, the Goa-based dentist, posted the photo on her Instagram account with a caption “Awed by his charm and modesty 😍 #rahulgandhi (sic)”

"When I asked him for a photograph with him, he said he would oblige after he settles the bill," Fernandes was quoted as saying by IANS. "He is too nice to be in the bad, bad world of politics," the dentist told IANS. Congress president and the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi reached Goa on Saturday, a state party functionary said. A senior police official further said the programme of the two Congress leaders is "under wraps" and they are expected to be in Goa for the "next three days". "They are living in a five-star hotel in south Goa," the official said.

Earlier, Goa Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawathankar had confirmed the visit and said the two leaders would not be meeting party functionaries during their stay. "It is entirely a private visit," he said. 

Earlier, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi had ringed in the New Year in 2017 in Goa. At that time, Sonia Gandhi’s photos cycling on the streets of Goa had gone viral. Her photo was tweeted by Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, where the 72-year-old was seen cycling and posing for a photograph in a resort in Goa.

In the election year, the Goa mini-break would be probably the last time when the Gandhis can let their guard down and enjoy some family time. In coming day, sister Priyanka, who was formally inducted in the Congress last week, would be seen addressing a rally. The Congress is leaving no stone unturned to change the 2014 fate, when the party was kicked out of power and ended up with miserable 44 seats in the Lok Sabha Elections.