With the Congress contesting only six seats out of 24 remaining in the last two phases in Maharashtra, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Priyanka Gandhi will address public rallies, while Rahul Gandhi will largely keep away from campaigning.
In the fourth phase to be held on May 13, Congress is contesting from Pune, Jalna and Nandurbar LS seats. Rahul Gandhi has already held a public rally in Pune while Priyanka Gandhi will campaign in Nandurbar on May 10.
In the fifth phase, the party will contest on Dhule in north Maharashtra and two seats in Mumbai. To campaign here, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to hold a public rally on May 15.
“Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh where election will be held on May 20. He will campaign there and other parts of the country as well. We have a number of leaders campaigning here, including Kharge ji and Priyanka ji,” said a senior party leader from the Congress.
While Gandhi won’t campaign for the remaining phases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address three election rallies on May 15 at Nasik, Bhiwandi and Mumbai. On May 17, he will also hold a road show in Mumbai. Union Minister Amit Shah is also likely to hold a public rally on May 12.
Taking on the PM over his frequent visits to Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “We welcome Narendra Modi to get a house at Peddar road in South Mumbai and Amit Shah to get a house in Borivali. The number of times both of them are coming to Maharashtra… they should now get a house here.” Shiv Sena UBT and Congress are allies.
Raut added, “No matter how many times they come here and try to influence voters, Uddhav Thackeray and the opposition MVA is enough to make all our candidates win this election.”
Rahul Gandhi has so far held campaign rallies in Bhandara, Amravati, Solapur and Pune in Maharashtra, while Priyanka Gandhi has addressed one rally at Latur and Kharge has held a rally in Nagpur.
