Preparations afoot for Rahul’s Oct 7 Mandi rally

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 2

The district Congress seems to be gearing up for the success of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s October 7 Mandi rally. The move of the Congress is considered to counter the rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will address a big rally in Bilaspur district on October 3. On the occasion, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) project here.

The Mandi district comprises of 10 Assembly segments. Half of the seats are dominated by the BJP. Mandi district plays a significant role in the formation of the government. The district has the largest number of Assembly segments after Kangra district.

The Congress rally will be organised at the Paddal ground near Mandi town after top leadership huddled together to take the decision. Earlier, there was suspense about the venue of the rally because Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma, who represents the Mandi Sadar constituency, has reservation in organising the rally at the Paddal ground, where construction work is going on.

The district leadership said at least 60,000 persons from different corners of the state would attend the rally.

According to sources, the district unit of the Congress will also arrange transport services for the people come for attending the rally from nearby districts, including Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Bilaspur.

At a time, when Congress is struggling to project a united image in the state, the top brass will focus on unity during the rally to gain the maximum benefit for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Senior Congress leader and Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur told The Tribune that this would be a historic rally, where more than 60,000 people are expected to attend the rally. All arrangements are underway for the rally at Paddal Ground.