During her statewide rallies, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to focus on “inflation” to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims of “achee din” (good days) during his Lok Sabha polls campaign. A day before Modi lands in Maharashtra to begin his whirlwind campaign during which he is scheduled to address 20 rallies across the state for the October 15 Assembly polls, state Congress leaders went into a huddle to redraw a counter-strategy. “All of us are closely watching the Modi rally at Mahalaxmi Race Course on Saturday. A good response to his rally will force us to make some course corrections on both contents and rallies,” said state Congress leaders. “In the current situation, Sonia Gandhi is our best bet. Although Rahul Gandhi is likely to hold public meetings in some constituencies, demand for him is poor,” they said. State Congress leaders have requested the AICC urging to hold at least 10 to 12 Sonia’s rallies, but the AICC has so far confirmed only three rallies, on October 9 and 11. The details of venue are still being worked out. MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said, “Requests for Sonia Gandhi’s rallies are pouring in from several constituencies. A final decision will be taken by AICC.” The state Congress is facing limitations in the absence of its star campaigner and excellent orator former chief minister (late) Vilasrao Deshmukh. At present, former CM Prithviraj Chavan is shouldering the entire responsibility alone. “I have set aside three days for my own constituency in Karad South. I will tour across the state in the remaining days,” he said. State Congress’s poll campaign committee chief Narayan Rane, who finds the going tough in his home turf Sindhudurg, also has his limitations. Similar is the situation with former chief minister Ashok Chavan, whose wife Ameeta is contesting from Bokhar in Nanded district. The demand for Sonia’s rallies from constituencies in tribal belt of north Maharashtra and Vidarbha have been rising. However, AICC has conveyed that owing to her health concerns, they will have to restrict Sonia’s rallies to just six, which would cover all five regions of western and north Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada and Vidarbha. State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Congress plans to harping on inflation. “People understand that Modi government has just completed 100 days. And even during this short period, there has been a serious effort to check inflation.”
