PM, Sonia to campaign in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The top Congress leadership, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi, will campaign in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for assembly elections, party sources said Friday.

Party sources said the top leadership could address around a dozen public meetings in Gujarat, including around four by Sonia Gandhi, five or six by Rahul and two by the prime minister.

Sonia Gandhi addressed a pre-poll rally in Rajkot in Gujarat Oct 3, setting the tone for the party’s campaign in the BJP-ruled state.

Congress leaders said the party’s campaign will focus on the neglect of rural areas by the Narendra Modi government and the condition of minorities. It will also tell people about the work done by the previous Congress governments and the role of the central government’s funds in welfare schemes, said Congress sources.

The number of Congress rallies in Himachal Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, could be slightly less than in Gujarat, said the sources. They added that the focus of the Congres campaign would be on lack of development in the hill state under Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal’s leadership.

"The campaign schedules for both states are being worked out," said a party leader.

While Gujarat will have polls in two phases Dec 13 and 17, Himachal Pradesh will vote Nov 4. Results for both state assembly elections would be out Dec 20.