File Photo: Congress President Sonia Gandhi with son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
With a tough challenge ahead for the Congress and Lalu Yadav-led RJD's 'grand alliance', Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi will address a series of rallies in the state next month ahead of the crucial five-phase assembly elections.
Ms Gandhi and son Rahul are scheduled to address nine and four rallies, respectively. While Ms Gandhi will be addressing rallies on October 3 and October 17, Mr Gandhi will be holding public meetings on October 7, 26 and 30.
Congress sources said that both RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are likely to share the dais with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in one or more of their rallies during the fortnight-long campaign, which starts with the Congress President's rally at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur and Wajirganj in Gaya on October 3.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address three rallies in Bachchwara in Begusarai, Barbigha in Sheikhpura and Chenari in Sasraam on October 7.
Due to his Bihar schedule, the Congress Vice-President's visit to the party-ruled Karnataka to meet debt-ridden farmers and family members of those who committed suicide, has been shifted to October 9 and 10.
While Ms Gandhi had already shared dais with Mr Kumar and Lalu Yadav at the Swabhiman Rally in Patna on August 30, Rahul Gandhi is yet to address any joint rally with the Bihar leaders.
Mr Gandhi kicked off his election campaign from Champaran on September 19, sharing the stage with lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav and JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi.
In Ramnagar, Rahul Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi calling him a "feku" (braggart) and accusing him of not fulfilling promises made to people and working only for a few "suited-booted" people saying that PM Modi and BJP were pro-rich.
The BJP-led NDA has already decided to launch a campaign blitzkrieg by holding a staggering 500 rallies, with Prime Minister Modi alone addressing 20-22 big meetings.