HP:Sonia Gandhi leaves PM, Rahul behind,starts poll campaign

Dharamsala, Oct 22: Leaving Prime Minister

and

leader Rahul Gandhi behind, UPA Chairperson and Congress President

kicked off her election campaign in poll-bound

on Monday, Oct 22. The PM and the general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) are also expected to join the election campaign in the state later this month.

Mrs Gandhi reached Mandi around 11:00 am and addressed an election rally.

The assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held on Nov 4 in one phase. The state has a total of 68 assembly constituencies. Of these, 17 are reserved for SCs and three for STs. All the votes polled in Himachal Pradesh will be counted on Dec 20.

The notification for the elections in the state has been issued on Oct 10. Oct 17 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations have been done on Oct 18. The last date for withdrawl of nominations is Oct 20.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will try to better the BJP's performance in 2007 when the party's candidates emerged triumphant in 41 constituencies. Congress could only win 19 in the last polls.

OneIndia News