Sonia likely to address rallies on Oct 2 in Gujarat

Congress president Sonia Gandhi may set the election tone in Gujarat by addressing two programmes on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi at Porbandar and Rajkot towns, a top party executive said.

"I recently met Soniaji in New Delhi and urged her to address farmers' conventions on October 2 in Saurashtra region and Gujarat Congress has received positive response from the UPA chairperson," state unit Congress president Arjun Modhvadia told PTI.

He visited Rajkot and Porbandar -- the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi – on Tuesday to give final touches to Sonia's likely visit.

"Congress is willing to organise the farmers meets in Porbandar and Rajkot on October 2 but the programmes would be finalised within a couple of days," Modhvadia said.

According to sources, Sonia will first visit Kirti Mandir in Porbandar -- the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi – on his birth anniversary on October 2, and address a farmers' convention there. She would also address another public gathering in Rajkot on the same day.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi visits Kirti Mandir every year to mark the birth anniversary of the 'Father of Nation'.

Assembly elections in Gujarat are due by January next as the term of current Legislative Assembly ends on January 17. The polls are likely to be held in two phases by the end of November and early December for which an announcement will be made by the Election Commission next month.