Sonia to launch party election campaign in HP, says Rathore

Shimla, Oct 24 (UNI) All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi's rally at Dharamshala in Kangra district on October 30 will launch the party's campaign for the next assembly polls due in 2008, party spokesman Kuldeep Rathore said today.

''Ms Gandhi's visit will enthuse the party workers in the state and help it to return back to power by defeating the BJP by huge margin,'' he said at a press conference here.

Mr Rathore said she would first unveil former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's statue at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Ayurvedic College at Paprola in the district before addressing the rally.

A Hundred thousand people were likely to participate in the rally, which would launch the party's campaign for the next assembly elections, he said.

He said Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) President Viplove Thakur was visiting all the blocks of Kangra district to gather public support for the rally.

This is Ms Gandhi's second visit to Kangra district after she took over the reins of the party, he said, adding that she first visited the state on May 31, 2002.

After the rally, she will meet party workers to prepare them for assembly them for the assembly elections, he said.

The Congress spokesman said proper security arrangements have been made for the rally and people would not be allowed to carry mobile phones, bags and other material inside the rally ground.

UNI AS HS VD HT1840