Rahul to accompany Sonia to New York for UN Assembly

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's first trip after his recent appointment to the party post will be to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) with his mother, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who will address the assembly on October 2, the world non-violence day.

Gandhi had earlier attended the UNGA last year and was part of a delegation of MPs under the stewardship of BJP MP Sushma Swaraj. This time though, he will attend a more high-profile event, steered by his mother, with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in attendance.

At the last UNGA, Gandhi had hung around with other MPs and just observed the events. This time, with his mother in tow, he is expected to rub shoulders with several heads of state and governments.

"As presidential election is due in the US, Gandhi is unlikely to meet any senior official of the state department," said a source.

She will also attend the receptions organised by the Indian community in New York and the Indian Overseas Congress.

Sources close to Rahul Gandhi say he has decided to dedicate the next three months to just "meeting people" from across the country.

"He admits that for the last three years, he has restricted himself to Amethi and Sonia Gandhi's seat of Rae Bareilly and that it is time to move on and take some responsibility," said the source.

"After New York, he will concentrate on meeting people from across the country ," said the source.