Sonia to kickstart election campaign with women rally in J and K

Jammu, Apr 5 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi will launch the party's election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir by organising a women rally here on April 12.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, Member Parliament and All India Mahila Congress President Prabha Thakur, who is here on a two-day visit, said Ms Gandhi would be visiting the winter capital of the state to address the women fraternity during a public rally.

Thousands of women workers and leaders were expected to attend the the rally, Dr Thakur said, adding the Congress President wanted to strengthen the female section of the society and this was the main idea behind addressing the rally.

In the upcoming State Assembly elections, women would be given special preference and also the mandate to contest elections in different constituencies, she added.

President Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and Union Minister for Water Resources Saif-ud-Din Soz said Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ms Gandhi wanted to give special status to the women fraternity of the country.

''In a Congress women rally at Rajasthan, around one lakh women were expected but the number was over three lakh, so we are expecting a mass participation in the rally here. The party is committed to an overall development and promotion of all sections of the society,'' Prof Soz said.

UNI VBH SYU RN1859