New Delhi, February 6
The Congress has ruled out any change in party candidates in Himachal Pradesh.

Congress general secretary Mohsina Kidwai, in-charge of the state, told The Tribune here that no change would be made in the party candidates. While the last date of filing nominations is January 7, the last date of withdrawal is January 10.

The Congress will launch its election campaign in Himachal Pradesh on February 11 with 10 rallies by party Chief Ministers and senior leaders in various districts of the state.

The Congress election blitzkrieg, planned in the manner of the BJP which has announced 10 rallies by senior party leaders on February 12, starts a day earlier.

Congress Chief Ministers of Punjab, Delhi and Chattisgarh, besides CWC members, PCC chiefs and Dalit leaders will address the election meetings on February 11. Party Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Maharashtra will campaign in the state later.

AICC sources said on February 11, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and CWC member Arjun Singh would address the rally at Nalagarh, CWC member R.K. Dhawan and Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma at Jubbal Kotkhai, CWC member Manmohan Singh at Paonta Sahib, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and Rajasthan PCC chief Girja Vyas at Gopalpur in Mandi, Haryana PCC chief Bhajan Lal and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Kullu, Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik at Kangra, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at Kotkehloor in Bilaspur, Ms Mohsina Kidwai and Congress spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi at Banikhet, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and PCC chief Vidya Stokes at Una and AICC treasurer Motilal Vora and Ms Meira Kumar at Hamirpur.

Mr Vora, who was among seniormost AICC leaders, would focus on Hamirpur from where acting Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was a candidate.

The sources said Capt Amarinder Singh was likely to campaign in Himachal Pradesh for about five days, addressing rallies in over 20 seats. Senior Congress leaders Dr Karan Singh, Mr P. Shiv Shankar and Mr Mahabir Prasad will also campaign in the state.

Ms Kidwai would tour the state for a week from January 7.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the main campaigner for the party, would address at least six rallies in the state in three days. The sources said Ms Gandhi would campaign in Himachal Pradesh in the second fortnight of February.