Sonia plays to Saurashtra sentiment, attacks Modi on development

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's first two rallies, both in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, gave a clear indication of the direction in which the Congress campaign is to flow. In both her rallies "" one in Navsari and the second in Jasdan near Rajkot "" Gandhi played to the Saurashtra sentiment, never referring to Modi by name and steering clear of Godhra and the 2002 riots.

Her speech and much of the Congress' advertisement campaign for the election concentrated on the perceived failure of the BJP-led government on the developmental front. She continuously attacked the BJP government in the state on its record in the last two terms.

She and the Congress have also realised the importance of the Saurashtra region and the Patel factor, which has turned against Modi lately. The area accounts for 58 seats, 35 of which went to the BJP in the last elections. The Congress is hoping to improve its tally here and has given at least 7 seats to BJP rebel candidates. The Patels are crucial as a group in at least 40 seats.

"A strange thing is happening here, the BJP is talking of Gandhi and Patel, two strong sons of Saurashtra. But they take Gandhi's name, and walk the path of Godse," she said in a heavily attended rally. "They take Patel's name and try to break the country, we don't need a certificate from the BJP to prove that we can handle terrorism. It was in the BJP regime that the Raghunath Temple in Kashmir, the Akshardham in Gujarat and even Parliament was attacked,"said Sonia Gandhi.