Sonia Gandhi to begin her election campaign in Bihar on October 3, Rahul on October 7

PATNA: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi are all set to hit the campaign trail for Bihar assembly polls on October 3 and 7 respectively.
In all, Rahul will address nine rallies, two of which in the Seemanchal region, where Asaduddin Owaisi's MIM may eat into Mahagathbandhan's votes.
As per the programme finalized so far by the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Sonia Gandhi will address four rallies during the party's month-long campaign."Her first election rally will be held on October 3 at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, from where Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Sadanand Singh is seeking re-election," Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) spokesperson H K Verma said on Tuesday. Kahalgaon constituency is going to poll in first phase on October 12.
Verma said, the Congress president would address another rally in Gaya district's Wazirganj assembly constituency on the same day in favour of the party candidate Awadesh Kumar Singh. Wazirganj is going to poll in the second phase on October 16.
"Rahul will be holding public meetings on October 7, 26 and 30 in different parts of the state. He is scheduled to address three rallies everyday," a senior Congress leader said.
On October 7, Rahul will address rallies at Chenari in Rohtas district, Barbigha in Sheikhpura district and Bachhwara in Begusarai district in favour of party candidates.
He will visit districts namely West Champaran, East Champaran and Sitamarhi on October 26 and Kishanganj and Katihar in Seemanchal region on October 30.
Polling in Kishanganj and Katihar will take place in the last and fifth phase on November 5, when the maximum of 57 Assembly constituencies go to the polls on a single day. Both the districts have large Muslim population where Mahagathbandhan hopes to gain seats because of unity among the secular parties like RJD, JD(U) and Congress.
Sources in state Congress said there might be some additions in the number of rallies addressed by Sonia and Rahul as per the demand of the candidates and party's state unit.