Practising austerity: Sonia flies economy class

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday flew economy class to Mumbai practising austerity the UPA government has sought to enforce while Nandan Nilekani is said to be planning to shift his address to Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.

Gandhi, also UPA chairperson who was behind the decision to ask two ministers S M Krishna and Shashi Tharoor to move to modest accommodation from their five-star dwelling afer a media expose, today flew to Mumbai in a commercial flight in an ordinary class seat to Mumbai to participate in a party function.

Nilekani, a high networth individual estimated at about USD 1.3 billion, who quit his job as Infosys Chairman to take up as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, is joining a host of politicians taking to austerity.

Sources close to him said he is likely to shift to the modest Karnataka Bhavan here from a five-star hotel. He is still waiting for his official accommodation, a bungalow in the capital's Lutyen's Zone, he is entitled to as a person with Cabinet status in the government.

Of the many options that his office is looking at, the modest Karnataka Bhavan is likely to be on the priority list, they said.

Meanwhile, Tharoor was seen enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Bengali market, a favourite of the middle class in the heart of the capital.

A couple of passengers, who travelled in the same flight, said it was a normal flight and there were no restrictions by security personnel.

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