Addressing partymen while launching her campaign for the coming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Sonia said the country was passing through a ``critical phase'' due to ``lack of understanding and follies'' of some people and asked Congressmen not to fail to discharge their responsibilities at this crucial juncture.

``In case, the Vajpayee government fell because of its own weaknesses, the Congress will not shy away from its responsibilities,'' she averred.

Exhorting party leaders from the State to work unitedly to ensure a Congress victory in the November Assembly polls, Sonia assured them that ``all attempts will be made to see that there is no injustice in the distribution of tickets to candidates.''

She also hailed Madhya Pradesh for being the first statein the country to hold elections for the three-tier Panchayat Raj.

Stressing the need for unity, Sonia said Congress would be able to face any challenge if the partymen stayed united. She described the forthcoming Assembly elections as a challenge which had to be met head on.

She assured the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, weaker sections, minorities, women and youth of adequate representation in distribution of tickets.

Calling upon party workers to work with full dedication to strengthen the party, Sonia said steps would be taken to make the organisation more active.

She said her party would give priority to the protection and welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other weaker sections of society and minorities. The Congress will continue to struggle for social justice, she added.

She said nationalisation of tendu leaf trade, ownership rights to slum-dwellers, increasing irrigation potential, uplift of landless farmers, reservation for Other Backward Classes were among the steps takenby successive Congress governments in the State.

Without naming the BJP, the Congress president said the main Opposition party in Madhya Pradesh, twice got the opportunity to rule was but was wiped out in the next elections. This indicates that the Congress was strong enough to take on such parties she added.

Sonia said the people were disillusioned and angry with the BJP led coalition government at the Centre because of unprecedented price rise, hoarding and adulteration.

``People are fed up with price rise. Now they are also afraid of adulteration in food chain.''

Stating that an anarchy like situation was now prevailing in the country, she expressed serious concern over hoarding and blackmarketing, which was resulting in increase in prices. She urged the party workers to take to the people the issue of price rise and highlight the Centre's failures and weakness.