Mumbai: With elections to 27 Zilla
Parishads, 309 panchayat samitis and 10 municipal corporations
to be held next month, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
(MPCC) has invited AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to
address a public meeting in Mumbai.
The ZPs, panchayat samiti polls will be held on
February 7 and municipal corporations, including the country's
premier civic body -- Mumbai, on February 16.
"We have booked the MMRDA grounds in suburban Bandra
and have sought Rahulji's time between February 6 and 8," a
senior leader and member of the party's election campaign
committee, said.
The leader said the AICC General secretary's schedule
in Uttar Pradesh will not be affected, if he agrees to accept
the state unit's invite.
"Election rallies in Uttar Pradesh are not held in the
evenings. He can campaign there in the morning and then come
to Mumbai in the evening," he said.
The public meeting in Mumbai will be a symbolic one,
where, Gandhi can reach out to the electorate all over the
state and exhort them to make party candidates victorious for
the ZPs, panchayat samitis and municipal corporations.
Highlighting the importance of Mumbai civic polls,
party sources said, late Prime MInister Indira Gandhi had
launched the congress campaign for Mumbai civic polls in the
early 80s.
Meanwhile, sources said that it is unlikely that AICC
chief Sonia Gandhi will address a joint election rally with
the NCP.
"Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, union ministers
from the state will hold joint rallies with the NCP leaders,"
sources added.
According to sources, NCP leader and Deputy Chief
Minister Ajit Pawar enjoys a good image among the rural
electorate, while Chief Minister Chavan has a 'Mr Clean' image
among the urban voters. Both the parties plan to cash on the
individual charisma of the two leaders in the campaign.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 22:00