Sonia to share stage with Lalu, Nitish at Swabhiman rally today

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address the first joint rally of the grand alliance billed as Swabhiman Rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday.

The rally has been called by the grand alliance, comprising Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress to protest against “the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi bruised dignity of Biharis”.

Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Ashok Choudhary said Sonia Gandhi would arrive in Patna at 12.30pm on Sunday and proceed to Gandhi Maidan after a 10-minute stopover at the airport. She will remain at the rally venue for about two hours.

Though Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav has already declined to attend the event, his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav would represent the party in the rally.

To a question on the possibility of Rahul Gandhi sharing the platform with Lalu Prasad, the BPCC chief said the Congress vice president would address the election meetings to be organised by the party during the poll campaign.

Buoyed by the participation of Sonia Gandhi in the rally, Choudhary claimed that more than 1.50 lakh party workers would attend the rally.

“It will be an unparalleled rally in terms of gathering. The drive launched by the party in different parts of the state is evoking tremendous response from the common people, who have been annoyed by hallow promises by Narendra Modi and his claims of bringing down the prices,” said Choudhary.

Slamming BJP leaders for “auctioning the respect of Bihar”, Choudhary alleged that the Prime Minister had stooped to a new low by indulging in “politics of package” to earn votes.