Monday, October 10 2005 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's proposed one-day visit to Bihar on October 15, ahead of the polling in 61 constituencies in the first phase of assembly election on October 18, is set to give momentum to the campaign of the four-party Secular Democratic Front (SDF) led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Lalu Prasad.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief spokesman Kripanath Pathak said Gandhi would address three public meetings on that day and also a rally here which would be attended among others by Railway minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri.

She would address meetings at Gaya, either at Bhagalpur or Kahalgaon and Singhia in Samastipur.

While Congress nominee for the Bhagalpur seat is Pravin Singh, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Sadanand Singh is seeking re-election from Kahalgaon.

"The decision regarding Gandhi's programme at Bhagalpur or Kahalgaon will be taken later", he said.

Congress sources said the SDF rally here holds significance, as its leaders will try to send out the message of a solid unity among the SDF allies and their commitment to fulfilling the promises made in the common minimum programme.