Patna, Sep 29 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi will address nearly 20 rallies of the grand alliance of the JD-U, RJD and Congress in the run-up to the Bihar assembly polls.

Sonia will address at least two rallies in Kahalgaon assembly segment in Bhagalpur district and Vajirganj constituency in Gaya districts on October 3.

She will also address three rallies on October 17 in different assembly segments.

"With different Congress candidates seeking her rallies in their respective constituencies during campaigning, she may visit the state in early November to address two or three more rallies," a senior party leader said.

Sonia Gandhi addressed the Swabhiman Rally of the grand alliance on August 30 in Patna.

Rahul Gandhi will also address over half a dozen rallies on October 26 and 30.

He will visit Bihar on October 7 to address three rallies in Bachwara segment in Begusarai district, Barbigha in Sheikhpura district and Chenari in Rohtas district.

The Congress vice president has already addressed a rally in Ramnagar in West Champaran district on September 19.

According to Congress leaders here, Sonia and Rahul will share the podium with star campaigners of the grand alliance - Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad - in two or three rallies, if not more.

"As Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad are into hectic campaigning, they may not get a chance to attend all the rallies to be addressed by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi," a senior Congress leader said.

The Congress is contesting 41 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly, while the JD-U and RJD are contesting 101 seats each.

Elections in Bihar will be held in five phases between October 12 and November 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on November 8.