Sonia to campaign in Gujarat in four rounds from December 1

Rajkot, Nov 29 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address campaign meetings in Saurashtra, Kutch, Central and South Gujarat in four rounds from December one, for the first phase of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Sonia will start her campaign tour with a public meeting at Chikhli in Surat district on December one, followed by a rally at Jasdan in Rajkot district, Union Food and Processing Industries Minister Subodant Sahay told mediapersons here this evening.

She will undertake a whirlwind tour of Kutch district on december four and address rallies in central and south Gujarat on December eight and 13 respectively, Mr Sahay said.

AICC General-Secretary Rahul Gandhi would also campaign in Gujarat but his schedule is yet to be finalised, he said.

Mr Sahay said the government had done little for the development of 1600 kms coastal belt of Gujarat and failed to provide sufficient water and electricity to villagers and farmers. The BJP government had costlier electricity for the farmers and provided them insufficient electricity for their crops, he alleged.

He alleged that farmers of Gujarat have not received their insurance money, despite Centre releasing their quota.

In reply to a question, Mr Sahay said Ms Sonia's campaign in Gujarat will be a turning point and the party would emerge victorious.

When asked if incidents in Ahmedabad, where congress workers went on rampage and damaged the party office after denial of tickets to their candidates, would affect the Congress in the elections, he replied in the negative.

UNI