Cong to launch UP assembly poll campaign with Sonia's rally

Kanpur/Lucknow, Aug 6 (UNI) Congress would launch its campaign for the 2007 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh on August 8 when AICC president Sonia Gandhi would address a 'nav nirman' rally in Kanpur.

Before the holy month of Ramzan in September/October, she is likely to address at least two more rallies in UP.

This is for the first time in the recent past that Ms Gandhi would step out of Rae Bareli, her parliamentary constituency, to address the public.

Though she has constantly targetted the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government of the state on various issues -- power, roads, law and order -- this would be for the first time that she would count the government's ''long list of failures'' on a bigger platform.

The Kanpur rally, to be held at Phulbagh maidan, comes close on the heels of UP Congress submitting a 'panel' of 200 candidates to the AICC for the assembly polls due early 2007. UP has 403 assembly seats.

On July 31, CM Mulayam Singh Yadav had addressed a rally at the same Phulbagh grounds where he targetted the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for its anti-youth, anti-poor and anti-farmer policies.

Ms Gandhi's proposed rally will also prove to be an acid test for UPCC chief Salman Khurshid. The party has already started making all-out efforts to mobilise a crowd for the rally. The Kanpur rally would be also a test for union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal, who is the local MP from the town.

Besides Khurshid, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of UP Ashok Gehlot and other senior leaders have begun touring the adjoining districts to mobilise support.

All the leaders of Congress' frontal organisations have been asked to close ranks and put up a good show at the rally.

As Ms Gandhi would use the occasion to launch her party's campaign for the Vidhan Sabha election, much significance is being attached to the Kanpur rally.

There has been a growing demand from Congressmen that Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi undertake a state-wide tour before the polls.

As there are indications that Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP) president Bachcha Pathak will join the Congress at the proposed rally, the LCP has decided to expel him from the primary membership of the party.

Having stayed out of power in the State for the past 16 years the party has overcome all its shortcomings. Congress workers have now started contacting people and were apprising them with the achievements of the Central government, AICC general secretary in charge of UP Ashok Gehlot told party workers in Allahabad recently.

In view of the elections the state has been divided into eight sectors. Congressmen were making contacts with the people at the block and district level and were also holding meetings. The response of people, Congress claimed, was good.

UNI NAB MB MSJ DB1222