Raipur, February 25: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said she was glad that her innings could conclude with the party's mass outreach programme 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' while describing the march as "a turning point" for the party.

The 85th plenary session of the Congress party began on Friday in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Addressing the gathering on the second day of Congress' three-day brainstorming session here, Sonia Gandhi said, "Our victories in 2004 and 2009 along with the able leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh gave me personal satisfaction but what gratifies me most is that my innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a turning point for Congress." Congress Plenary Session: BJP Fuelling Fire of Hatred, Targeting Minorities, Women, Dalits and Tribals, Says Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi Speech at Congress Plenary Session:

The former Congress chief accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre of subverting every institution in the country. "This is a challenging time for Congress and the country as a whole. BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have captured and subverted every single institution in the country. It ruthlessly silences any voice of Opposition. It has caused economic ruin by favouring a few businessmen," added the Rae Bareli MP in a veiled attack on Centre amid the row over Hindenburg's report on the Adani group.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra traversed 12 states and two Union territories in 145 days after its launch on September 7 last year and covered 4,080 km. Congress Plenary Session: Street Paved with Flower Petals to Welcome Priyanka Gandhi in Raipur (See Pics).

The yatra culminated with an event at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar and a mega rally on January 30. Congress claimed that Bharat Jodo Yatra was the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India. The party said it received support from various political parties and social organizations across the country.

Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held last year and the Yatra was seen as an attempt to encourage the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also addressed the session on Saturday.