Bhandara (Maharashtra), Apr 10 : UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and NCP president Sharad Pawar will address a joint rally at Sakoli in Maharashtra''s Bhandara District today.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is contesting the Bhandara-Gondia parliamentary seat.

Sonia is also scheduled to address election meetings for her party candidates -Naresh Pugalia (Chandrapur), Haribhau Rathod (Yavatmal) and Mukul Wasnik (Ramtek).

Vidarbha will go to the polls in the first phase on April 16.

The Congress gave a dismal performance in Vidarbha in the 14th Lok Sabha elections. In 2004, it could win only the Nagpur seat of the 11 seats. The BJP and the Shiv Sena bagged 10 seats, thus continuing their dominance in the erstwhile Congress bastion. (ANI)