Sonia banks on women for large turn out at the polling booths

Rae Bareli, UP, May 3 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi today urged the women to turn out in large numbers for the May 8 Rae Bareli by-elections.

Addressing election meetings at Satawan and Saraini, Ms Gandhi said ''Being a woman, I consider emancipation of women as my main objective. Women have to play an important role in the development of society.'' Reminding Rae Bareli of its long standing association with the Nehru-Gandhi family, she said Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi always strived for the development of India as well as Rae Bareli.

''Being Prime Minister is not the only achievement, but to work for the people and earn their respect is something to cherish,'' she observed.

Ms Gandhi, who resigned her Lok Sahba seat on March 23 over the post of profit controversy, is seeking re-election to the lower house from the high-profile Parliamentary constituency.

The Congress chief is slated to address as-many-as five election meetings in the constituency, one in each five Assembly segments in Rae Bareli including Saraini, Satawan, Sadar, Dalmau and Bachrawan.

UNI NAB/SB VS HS KP1804