Party wants Sonia to hit poll trail

Though it is not clear how many meetings Sonia will address, party leaders are keen on five rallies. Probable venues are Madhubani (Mithilanchal), Katihar, Purnea and Thakurganj (Seemanchal) and Seikhpura or Lakhi Sarai (Begusarai).

Mithilanchal has been a traditional stronghold of the Congress, with a formidable Brahmin presence. Seemanchal has a sizeable presence of Muslims. Begusarai area is dominated by upper-caste Bhumihars. Given this composition, the Congress has put up 10 Muslims and three Brahmins in the second phase. The Brahmin candidates may be fine with RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, but the Muslims are sure to cut in to his vote bank. In fact, the Seemanchal-belt saved Laloo last time, when he performed better there after doing badly in his own areas.

Seemanchal is the home turf of Taslimuddin, Laloo’s key party leader. Laloo has to contend with the rebellion of Pappu Yadav also in this area.

Party leaders expect Sonia to shed her ambivalence a little in the next round and try reaching out to both Muslims and upper castes, without creating any problems for her ruling coalition at the Centre.

The party here today sought to clear the air about the possibility of a post-poll tie-up with JD(U). Party spokesperson Girija Vyas clarified that ‘‘there was no question of the Congress touching JD (U) even with a bargepole’’. The clarification had become mandatory when a rather casual observation by party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi (‘‘politics is all about possibilities’’) in reply to a question about the possibility of an alliance with JD(U), had attracted jeers from the BJP.

While Vyas was not categorical about a Congress-RJD-LJP alliance after polls, she hinted at this by underlining their joint wish to keep ‘‘communal parties’’ out of power. As for the current scene, she rationalised it by arguing that each party had to fight elections on the basis of its own ideology, manifesto and local requirements.