The Congress campaigning in Himachal has been low profile so far. But Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Shimla on May 2 will infuse some enthusiasm among the party workers. Star campaigners Sheila Dixit and Ashok Gehlot will soon follow the lead and visit the state. The party will organise a rally in Shimla which will be addressed by Sonia. The party candidates are expected to be present on the day.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Kaul Singh Thakur said, “We have chosen the capital for launching the campaign as it represents all parts of the state. She is likely to come back later and campaign in other parts too.”

So far the Congress campaign in Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur have has been negligible in the absence of senior leaders. Except for a couple of days in Hamirpur, Kaul Singh Thakur also did not venture out of Mandi. Campaign of Dhani Ram Shandil in Shimla has been left to CLP leader Vidya Stokes, while Narinder Thakur in Hamirpur and Chander Kumar in Kangra are almost going alone with some MLAs and workers. Meanwhile, Virbhadra Singh is facing problem in arranging a helicopter to the snow bound areas of his constituency. On Saturday, when he could not manage to get the one arranged by party, Virbhadra made his own arrangement to visit some tribal areas in Lahaul and Spiti. He is scheduled to campaign in tribal areas of Chamba and Lahaul and Spiti till April 28.

Kaul Singh said the party is aware of the problem and helicopter would be made available by the party in first week of May. Late snowfall that continued till April has made it difficult for the parties to reach tougher areas for campaigning.