Sonia packs surprise in her Amethi punch

Taking a leaf out of her mother-in-law and husband’s book, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has decided to do away with an itinerary and tak...

Taking a leaf out of her mother-in-law and husband’s book, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has decided to do away with an itinerary and take spontaneous decisions on where to go in her Amethi Lok Sabha constituency where she begins her three-day visit today.

While her schedule specifically mentioned villages she was going to visit, this time five hours have been set aside for bhraman karyakram (tour programme) for tomorrow and three hours the day after.

‘‘Indiraji and Rajivji also moved in their constituency at their own will and not according to a pre-decided schedule,’’ chief Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh said.

Local party leaders — who used to decide her programme in the name of holding conventions (with farmers, minorities etc) for their own political benefit — have also been kept out this time as Sonia will only address a meeting of block-chiefs of the party.

She will meet block-level party workers at Bahadurpur village tomorrow. ‘‘The General will have a direct interaction with her troops,’’ Singh said.

There are nearly 809 blocks in the state and each block has polling booths ranging from 60 to 80 and each booth has a minimum of two active members and a committee of nearly 40 members.

The Congress has already decided to rejuvenate the basic units to ensure local level participation at the time of polling.

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Each block head has been given a 14-page booklet listing shortcomings of the Vajpayee Government with the instructions that its contents be communicated to the masses. The state Congress committee has also prepared a booklet highlighting shortcomings of the Mayawati government and this will also be given to block chiefs.

The committee has already launched a block-specific programme, including training camps, from May 1 and it will last till August 15. From August 9-15, there will be torch processions in every village.