The top leadership of Congress — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi — would address around 10 rallies between them in the Punjab assembly elections. The itinerary of Prime Minister is ready. He would be addressing election meetings on January 21 at Amritsar and Ludhiana.
Giving details tour programmes, Punjab PCC president Amrinder Singh said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would address election meetings at Moga and Kapurthala, a few days after PMs visit. The dates for Mrs Gandhi’s visit are yet to finalised.
Similarly, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has agreed to spend two days in Punjab and could address as many as six rallies, he added. The dates of his programme are yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile, the Sehajdhari Sikh Party on Thursday has merged in Congress and has also decided to withdraw its 21 candidates in the fray. Sehajdari party president P.S. Ranu joined the Congress in the presence of Mr Amrinder Singh.
Mr Ranu was in news recently after Punjab and Haryana high court gave a ruling allowing Sehajdari’s right to vote in the SGPC elections on his petition.
After joining the Congress party, Mr Ranu said that all 69 lakh Sehajdari Sikhs would support Congress party and defeat Akali Dal who has created fissures amongst Sikh Community.