On Vidarbha tour, Sonia stays away from statehood

‘‘Congress is aware of the problems and sentiments of the people of Vidarbha and our party in the government in Maharashtra has already given a package for carrying out developmental activities,’’ she said at a mammoth gathering in this tribal belt.

Pavni falls in Lakhandur Assembly constituency, where sitting Congress MLA Nanabhau Patole is the candidate. But the district comprising six Assembly seats is going the saffron combine’s way.

‘‘Justice would be done to the region after the elections,’’ Sonia said, carefully avoiding the statehood demand. The message was clear: The Congress would rather discuss development before moving ahead to fulfil the statehood demand. The Congress’ best-known face in Vidarbha, Ranjit Deshmukh, had queered the pitch at Nagpur, threatening to withdraw following the non-inclusion of the statehood issue in the manifesto. He relented after AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh assured him that the demand would be taken up ‘‘along with Telangana’’.

Sonia’s next stop today was in Naxalite-affected Gadchiroli district, where she promised time-bound implementation of schemes. Two of the three Assembly seats, Gadchiroli and Armori, here are with the saffron combine.

The Congress chief was expected to speak on the Naxalite problem but she made only a passing reference to it.

CM Sushilkumar Shinde struck a populist note by referring to the relief measures announced for farmers, in particular the waiver of interest on crop loans and electricity bills.