In Gujarat, Rahul's short trip to sour pitch for Modi

Rahul Gandhi will enter the Gujarat electoral arena only after November 26, which will give him just two weeks to counter Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner. The elections will be held on December 11 and 16.

Congress managers in the state say Gandhi will undertake a whirlwind tour in a short period, unlike Uttar Pradesh, where he spent long stretches campaigning. They say this is because Gujarat is smaller and easier to navigate.

Politically, Gujarat will be an important test for young Gandhi's mettle as a national leader. While he has steadily increased his visibility in UP, he will be seriously campaigning outside his home state for the first time.

As a large section of the party is keen to project him as its next leader, he will be given prominence in multiple ways.

Before he goes to Gujarat, he is likely to deliver a speech at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on Saturday.

Usually, the Congress president is the face of such meetings, but according to a party source, the session is likely to see "public demand" for a speech by the junior Gandhi.

There was a similar situation at the AICC plenary when he had to come to the dias to assure supporters that he was preparing for bigger responsibilities.

In the recent AICC reshuffle, Rahul Gandhi was inducted in almost all important party committees. He is general secretary in charge of various youth wings and a member of a party group to look into future challenges. He was also on the committee that formulated drafts for the AICC session.

The leader, projected as the future of the Congress, will campaign independently.

According to party sources, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will go to different places and there will be only a few joint rallies. The young Gandhi's Gujarat tour will focus more on roadshows, interaction with people and local meetings.