Manmohan, Advani to campaign in Himachal Sunday

Shimla - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BSP chief Mayawati and BJP senior leader L.K. Advani are all set to hold election rallies for their respective parties in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh Sunday.

Manmohan Singh will hold his first election rally in Una town at 2.30 p.m., flying there soon after oath-taking ceremony of the new union cabinet in New Delhi, a Congress leader told IANS.

He said the prime minister will address only one rally in the state.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Advani is starting his campaign in the state with a rally in Amb, just 30 km from Manmohan Singh's rally venue.

BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt told IANS that Advani would address the rally at 1 p.m. "He (Advani) is likely to address a few more rallies in the next few days," he said.

BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will hold three rallies in Mandi, Kangra and Una districts Monday.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who is already campaigning in the state, will hold a rally in Una town at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Congress leaders said that party president Sonia Gandhi, the first political leader to launch the campaign in the state from Mandi town, would hold rallies in Shimla and Kangra towns Oct 30, three days before the campaigning comes to an end.

Polling for the 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh will be held Nov 4. The votes will be counted only on Dec 20, after the Gujarat assembly polls are over.