Today (March 12), Congress is all set to launch its 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stronghold Gujarat. The principal opposition party has charted out a day long program - which is fully loaded with a "political message" in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. It is to be noted that Congress has zeroed in on March 12 - which marks the anniversary of famous Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi. To challenge the authority of the British, Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Dandi March or Dandi Satyagraha on March 12, 1930.

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Congress senior leader Shaktisinh Gohil said "We are celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and what better way to launch our election campaign than to start with a prayer meet at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad,". The prayer meet will be followed by a small roadshow where all the prominent leaders of the Congress including party chief Rahul Gandhi will ride in buses to Sardar Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad to attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. When asked why the Congress decided to launch its campaign from Gujarat, Shaktisinh Gohil said, "There can't be a better place than Gujarat to launch our Lok Sabha poll campaign. This is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. We are celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi ji. Mahatma Gandhi led the Dandi March on March 12 - that is why we will hold a prayer meet at Gandhi Ashram followed by CWC meeting at Sadar Patel Memorial Hall."

Notably, it also marks an important milestone for the party as the CWC will be meeting in Gujarat after 58 years. The CWC is the highest decision-making body of Congress. It is clear from the party's schedule that the Congress intends to send a message as both Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel are legendary leaders of the party. This CWC is also significant as it will be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's first meeting of the committee as the party's newly appointed General Secretary. According to authoritative sources, the CWC will be coming out with resolutions on failure of the Modi government in the last five years and also review the party's preparations for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

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AICC incharge of Congress in Gujarat, Rajiv Satav said, "Rahul ji had said that we will play in the front foot this time and by declaring our candidates, we are already a step ahead. After 58 years, Cthe WC meet will be held in Gujarat and we will officially launch the Lok Sabha election campaign from here." The CWC will be followed by a public meeting at Trimandir in Adalaj, Gandhinagar where patidhar leader Hardik Patel will officially join the Congress. Sources within the party say Hardik Patel is likely to be fielded from the Jamnagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat.