Many people who had come to listen to her at the Chandmari ground were disappointed as Sonia and the state Congress leaders avoided either attacking or even referring to Sangma -- the main opponent of Congress candidate Atul . Marak for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.

In her 15-minute speech, the only occasion she even touched the periphery of the controversial issue was when she invoked the legacy of the Gandhi family and said that she is as much an Indian citizen as any other Indian.

When The Indian Express asked her why she avoided attacking Sangma, one of the three Congress rebels who raised the bogey of her foreign origin and split the Congress, she said: ``I don't believe in taking names of people''.After a pause, she added: ``Anyway, people know about it.''

Dressed in traditional Garo clothes, Sonia Gandhi was accompanied by son Rahul. After the meeting, both of them interacted with the 10,000-strong crowd, which the Congress leaders say, indicates the people's mood.