Powerful women of India polity on campaign trail

Karnal, Pune: There's no grounding the two most powerful women in the country. Sonia Gandhi kicked off her Haryana campaign while Mayawati was in Maharashtra, where the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting almost 300 seats in the state.

Sonia Gandhi campaigned in Karnal, Haryana, which goes to the polls in a few days. It's a state where the Congress is hoping to retain power. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi would join the campaign late next week.

"If the pace of development is to be maintained then support the Congress," said Sonia.

In Maharashtra, another state that will vote later in October, there was a big rally and a big leader. BSP president Mayawati hit the campaign trail in Pune.

"The congress has ignored the rights of the Dalits," said UP Chief Minister Mayawati.

The BSP is contesting 282 seats in Maharashtra, and clearly, Mayawati is serious about enlarging her imprint across Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav too launched Samajwadi Party's campaign for the Haryana Assembly election on Sunday. Dimple is contesting on the Firozabad seat in the by-election and will cross swords with Raj Babbar of Congress.