Sonia Gandhi arrives to rousing reception in Varanasi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi arrived to a rousing welcome here on Tuesday, with party workers lining up both sides of the road from the airport and raising slogans hailing her.

After reaching the Babarpur airport, she spent some time in the VIP lounge and then drove off for her scheduled road show.

On way, as her cavalcade emerged out of the airport, hundreds of enthusiastic Congress workers showered petals on her and asked her to lead the party to power in Uttar Pradesh.

She waved back to the supporters and, at times, greeted them with folded hands from inside her bulletproof vehicle. Security personnel had a tough time keeping the crowds at bay.

Newly appointed UP Congress Chief Raj Babbar told reporters that he was sure the people of the state will back the party in the assembly polls in 2017.

"The people of UP have always shown miracles. In 2004 they gave us many MPs, in 2007 they gave a mandate to the BSP, in 2012 to the SP and in 2014 to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi.

"I am sure that in 2017 the miracle is going to be in our favour" he said, adding that Sonia Gandhi had come to Varanasi, the Lok Sabha seat of Modi, to seek the blessings of Baba Vishwanath of Kashi.