Elaborate preparations in view of Sonia's visit tomorrow

Bhopal, July 2 (UNI) Elaborate preparations are in place in Madhya Pradesh ahead of Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi's maiden visit to the state capital, since the formation of the UPA Government at the Centre, tomorrow.

Congress workers were enthusiastic about the first visit by the party chief since the BJP came to power in the state.

Huge cutouts and banners of Ms Gandhi were put at various places, starting from the airport to programme sites, in the state capital.

The cutouts and hoardings bear photograph of Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri, who belongs to the state capital.

The visit -- which comes in the wake of recent patch-up between state Congress President Subhash Yadav and Opposition Leader Jamuna Devi -- indicated that the Congress was aiming at increasing its mass base and resolving internal differences in time before the next assembly elections in the state.

Congress spokesperson Manak Agrawal said Ms Gandhi would arrive via a special aircraft at the local Raja Bhoj airport at 1000 hrs where party workers would accord her a tumultuous welcome.

Ms Gandhi would participate in three programmes before returning to the national capital at 1600 hrs.

UNI AG-PS MSJ BD1625