A file picture of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda
The Congress party will kick-start its first election campaign after its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year in Haryana today.
The poll campaign will be launched by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with a rally in Panipat, where he will present his government's report card.
Mr Hooda, who has led the Congress party to victory twice in the state, will lay down his agenda for the future even as anti-incumbency is expected to weigh on his chances of a third stint. His speech is expected to outline the highlights of Congress party's manifesto for the assembly polls.
He is also expected to announce a host measures to woo various sections of voters ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct.
Even though the polls are yet to be formally announced, they are expected to take place in late September or early October.
The election commission is expected to announce election dates for Haryana and Maharashtra next week.
Grand preparations are being made for today's rally as it is expected to be Mr Hooda's show of strength after the BJP held two successful rallies in the state.
Mr Hooda was recently booed off the stage when he was sharing stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Kaithal.
The Congress is likely to present the incident at the rally as an insult to "Haryana Samaan" (Haryana's Pride) in an attempt at securing the important Jat vote. For Jats, whose vote makes or breaks governments in the state, community pride is extremely important.
No top leader from the centre is expected to be at the rally except for Congress state unit incharge Shakeel ahmed.