Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday asked party leaders to accelerate the pace of the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

 

 Party sources said Gandhi made the remark at a meeting of the party's campaign committee for the elections expected to be held April-May. The meeting discussed the party's campaign, including the "public reach" programme under which 'padyatras' (marches) will be held in all constituencies.

 

 Congress sources said the public reach programme will be held at various villages and blocks. "Reaching out to people is a tried and tested mode of campaign by the party," a Congress leader said. The campaign committee meeting was attended by 42 of its 50 members. The committee is chaired by Gandhi.