Sonia makes pit stop at Kadam’s home

The rally was a show of strength — with at least 50,000 people, mainly Congress and NCP workers — and represented rural Sangli — Palus, Kundal, Takavi, Dhavli, Miraj and Patangrao’s constituency Bhilawdi-Wangi. As for the lower-than-usual turnout by the masses, party leaders felt the early morning schedule was to be blamed.

Sonia’s speech was on familiar lines, taking on the BJP-Shiv Sena combine. ‘‘Power had made them proud. But we defeated them in Lok Sabha polls. Unko hamara accha kam nazar nahi aata, to hamara kasoor nahi hain. Unki nazar ka kasoor hain (They cannot see the work that we have done and it is not our fault. The problem is with their outlook).’’

Though Sonia made all the correct moves, referred to stalwarts Vasantdada Patil and Yashwantrao Chavan and also gave something for women to cheer about, she hardly touched base with the common man. The people of Sangli have had their fill of rabble-rousing by Congress candidate Dinkar Patil and rebel candidate Madan Patil. Topping it is BJP’s Sambhaji Pawar, who is trying to capitalise on this infighting.

While Congress amd NCP candidates from Ichalkaranji, Valwa, Khanapur, Kavtemankal, Jat, Miraz and Shirol were paraded before Sonia, Home Minister R.R. Patil from Tasgaon and Shirale’s Mansingh Naik — both NCP candidates — were conspicuous by their absence.

Though there is not much to read into it as R.R. Patil is busy campaigning, yet in election time, power politics does come into play. Rajaram Patil, chairman of Tasgaon Cooperative Mill, who had come to attend the rally, said: ‘‘Everybody knows that Kadam is in the race for Chief Minister. But our RR saheb is also in the race.’’

Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who addressed the rally, reiterated the government’s resolve regarding the waiving of electricity bills for farmers. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, RPI chief Ramdas Athavale and party in-charge for the state Margaret Alva and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prabha Rau were also present.