Months ahead of elections, Congress and Modi begin warm-up exercises

With Shankar Singh Vaghela at the helm, the Congress has hit the streets of Gujarat. Over the next 10 days, the Sardar Sandesh Yatra will travel across the state with senior party leaders holding public rallies. This is unmistakably the launch of the Congress' campaign for the elections in Gujarat, which have to be held before December. Hoping for a fourth consecutive term is Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. In their speeches, Congress leaders will focus on exposing Mr Modi's misrule - a job made considerably tougher by the fact that even his severest critics acknowledge the development Mr Modi has fostered in his home state.