Sonia Gandhi blows unofficial poll bugle in Mizoram

AIZAWL: UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday all but launched her party's election campaign in Mizoram for the forthcoming state assembly polls by appealing to the people to give Congress another term. The state is scheduled to go to polls by the end of November. The Mizo National Front (MNF) took out a dharna on Friday against the AICC president's visit.
While addressing a public rally attended by officials and party workers, Sonia praised the Congress government in the state led by chief minister Lal Thanhawla "for running a transparent, responsive and progressive administration during the past five years''.
Saying that Mizoram has a special place in her heart and in the hearts of other Congress leaders, she promised, "Your concern will be pursued and your voices will be heard." She appealed to the people to recognize the good work done by the present government.
Sonia also formally launched the Food Security Scheme at the public rally and said the scheme would ensure that lakhs of malnourished and hungry people in the country are now able to buy rice and other essential foodgrains at a very low price.
She also laid the foundation stone of the Sainik School to be constructed at Chhingchhip village in Mizoram's central Serchhip District and launched the fourth phase of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state.
The AICC president said that more than one lakh families in the state have already been provided financial assistance under the NLUP and all repatriated Bru refugees would also be covered under the flagship programme.
Members of the youth wing of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) protested against Sonia's visit saying that central Congress leaders visited Mizoram only for election campaigns. MNF youth president PC Laltlansanga said that central leaders visited other states ravaged by disasters and announced hefty relief packages, while they never visited or helped Mizoram in the time of disasters and visited the state only during election campaigns.