Manmohan, Sonia and Rahul to campaign in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be star campaigners of the party in Odisha, where it will have to grapple with rebel candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

AICC in-charge of Odisha BK Hariprasad today said Rahul Gandhi will visit Odisha on March 31 and Sonia will come after him. The date for Singh`s campaign was also not specified by him. The state is going to the ballots in two phases on April 10 and April 17. Asked about the impact of rebel candidates, Hariprasad said it will not affect the prospect of the official candidates in the state. Congress is lagging behind ruling BJD in campaigning. BJD president and its star campaigner Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already launched his party`s campaign from his native Ganjam district. He is campaigning in Bolangir and Kalahandi districts today.