Sonia announces retirement as Cong chief, Amit Shah debuts in Rajya Sabha

PM urged all political parties to come together to ensure the winter session transacts important business

The highlights of the first day of the winter session of Parliament, where neither of the two Houses could transact any business, were Congress President Sonia Gandhi announcing her retirement and the debut of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha.

With Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi set to officially take over the reins of the party on Saturday, Congress President Sonia Gandhi was asked by the media in Parliament about her future role. "My role is to retire," she said.

Her comments were interpreted to mean that Sonia Gandhi plans to retire from public life. Congress