Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Maharashtra on Oct 8

Gandhi's visit is significant for the Congress as he is the first central party leader to campaign for the crucial elections where the party is battling huge odds to bag power for the fourth consecutive term.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will on Wednesday launch his election campaign for the October 15 Maharashtra assembly elections in Mumbai, a party official said.

He will start with a rally in the historic town of Mahad in Raigad district, and follow it up with a public meeting in Ausa in Latur.

Gandhi's visit is significant for the Congress as he is the first central party leader to campaign for the crucial elections where the party is battling huge odds to bag power for the fourth consecutive term.

Mahad in Raigad in the coastal Konkan region bears historical importance for the people of the state.

While Raigad was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maratha kingdom, Chavdar Lake in Mahad was the venue of BR Ambedkar's famous Water Satyagraha of March 20, 1927, after which Dalits and untouchables were permitted to use the lake.

The Latur rally will be held in Ausa, in Marathwada region, an erstwhile Congress stronghold and home town of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh and former Lok Sabha speaker Shivraj Patil.

Top state leaders, including former chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan, state party chief Manikrao Thakre, and other senior leaders will be present for Gandhi's rallies.