The next phase of the Congress campaign would see Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka and Rahul and senior party leaders canvassing across the country. While Sonia is expected to address about 120 events, including public meetings and Jan Sampark programmes, both Priyanka and Rahul are said to be preparing for 80 such events.To begin with, it is learnt that Priyanka and Rahul would start with roadshows in Uttar Pradesh, the plan for which is said to be almost finalised.Explains AICC secretary Major Dalbir Singh: ‘‘We have discovered that people are not that interested in public meetings. The Jan Sampark programmes or people contact programmes have better impact because the leaders get to meet more people personally.’’Places where the main party leaders, like the Gandhis, are to visit are decided on the basis of the results of the last general elections and the population profile of the constituencies.‘‘There are seats where the party might have lost by a narrow margin and where there is a good chance of winning this time. Then even within a constituency, pockets of tribals, Dalits, minorities, women and others are chosen for such visits,’’ Singh said.
