Sonia flashes green signal for tie-up with NCP

Party sources also disclosed that Sonia will informally launch the election campaign by visiting five places on August 11. Keeping in view the recent deaths of children due to malnutrition and suicides by farmers, Sonia has packaged the tour differently.

She will first visit Nandurbar, Mellghat and Dharani, in Amraoti district, where children died due to malnutrition. Her next stop will be Wardha, Rao’s home town, where she will meet the families of farmers who have committed suicide. Finally, Sonia will visit Nagpur to deliver the valedictory address at the state NSUI workers’ convention.

The Congress, Alva said, will soon name its representatives for the seat-sharing talks. The party’s homework is complete after the receipt of feedback from 12 teams, deputed to different areas, last week.

The ‘‘secular’’ alliance will include PWP, JD (S), CPI, CPI(M) and some RPI factions apart from the big two. Alva did not commit herself either way when asked if the alliance would take BSP on board.

Rao, however, stated that the party will take along the RPI factions led by Prakash Ambedkar and R.S. Gavai, both 1999-poll allies. The alliance will conduct a joint election campaign and a common manifesto is likely.

On the demand for the creation of Vidarbha state, Alva said: ‘‘Those who made the demand are quiet (ab baith gaye hain) and those who fought the election on this plank have been defeated.’’

Congress has drafted four secretaries to oversee campaigning in four regions. Ajay Maken has been placed in charge of Vidarbha, while Ved Prakash will look after Mumbai and Konkan. Bharat Solani will take care of Marathwada and Khandesh and B.K. Hari Prasad western Maharashtra.