For UP polls, Congress counts on Gandhigiri

Realising the vote-catching potential of Gandhigiri, that has caught the fancy of the young, thanks to Bollywood movie Lage Raho Munnabhai, the Congress is planning to use it in the coming polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Citing reports about huge sale of Gandhi topis in Lucknow since the release of the film, sources said it was a clear indication that Gandhi's ideas in their new form had the potential to attract voters. The Congress, due to its association with Gandhi could gain, they added.

The party also sees this as an opportunity to "re-launch" Rahul Gandhi in UP who has so far failed to inspire confidence beyond the family pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli.

One of the suggestions, learnt to have been made by Mohsina Kidwai to party President Sonia Gandhi, is to launch a padyatra in poll-bound states a few weeks ahead of the elections early next year. The padyatras can be led by Sonia and Rahul, she has suggested.

According to party sources, there are valid reasons for launching the padyatra as 2006 is the centenary of the Mahatma's satyagraha in South Africa.

A committee of the Congress Working Committee members and headed by AK Antony to draw a plan to celebrate the centenary has also been set up.

Eight task forces, each headed by a senior leader, have been constituted. The party plans to take out a cycle yatra from Sabarmati Ashram to Porbandar and organise rallies and meetings across the country.

Sources say the party has also decided to launch a satyagraha against the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat.