Pondicherry, Aug 13: The Congress and Puducherry Makkal Congress (PMC) have put up big cutouts of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at vantage points welcoming her for tomorrow's Congress-PMC merger function here. Sonia Gandhi will also launch the education department's breakfast scheme named after late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi under which children would be given bread and milk here.
Large banners and graffitis welcoming Sonia Gandhi could be seen across the town. The merger function would be held at Thattanchavady near the statue of Rajiv Gandhi.
Congress president is visiting Pondicherry for the first time after the formation of Rengasamy-headed Congress government. Sonia Gandhi had last visited the union territory last year for election campaigning. The Congress with 11 members enjoys the support of four PMC legislators, two TMC and an equal number of Independents in a house of 30 members.
TMC in Tamil Nadu would also merge with the Congress at a function tomorrow evening at Madurai. Sonia Gandhi would reach Madurai after her engagements at Pondicherry.
Meanwhile, one of the two TMC legislators in Pondicherry Theni C Jayakumar has expressed his opposition to the TMC's merger in Pondicherry and has decided to remain a TMC member. Bureau Report