Sonia does a Pawar, to travel economy class

Practising austerity, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will travel the economy class while flying to Mumbai today.

Party sources said Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, will be taking the economy class when she goes to Mumbai for a party function.

Gandhi had been instrumental in launching an austerity drive in the party in the wake of drought in various parts of the country.

The drive has also gained momentum in the government with several ministers flying the economy class.

Yesterday, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna announced that he will not take private aircraft and travel on commercial flights for his overseas trips while his colleague Sharad Pawar after some initial resistance flew economy class in a private airline.

Krishna has decided to forego travel by private aircraft which he is entitled to use on visits abroad and said he will travel economy class commercial flights.

Pawar said his party was now buying air tickets for him and not the government following the announcement of the code of conduct for the Maharashtra Assembly elections.