By Rajat Rai, iANS,
Amethi : Over a dozen public meetings, a run of nearly 100 km in a BMW SUV, with only a common request to the voters of Amethi – “Please vote for my brother”. That was how Priyanka Gandhi spent Tuesday as she criss-crossed the Uttar Pradesh constituency canvassing for votes for her brother, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
“Apne mere bhai ko panch saal diye hain aur usne development kiya hai… usse panch saal aur deejiye aur vote jaroor kariye (My brother has done a lot of developmental works in Amethi, give him five years more and please do cast your vote),” Priyanka Gandhi said in her orations Tuesday in Rahul Gandhi’s constituency.
Priyanka, who is campaigning rigorously in her mother Sonia Gandhi’s Rae Bareli and brother Rahul’s Amethi constituency for the past four days, addressed 15 public meetings Tuesday.
“By serving you, I feel like I am serving my father late Rajiv Gandhi. Please exercise your right to vote for the development of your constituency and your children,” Priyanka said in Pachwara block of Amethi.
However, her five-minute stoppages at most of the blocks did not impress some voters.
“Bas ho gaya? Keval vote maangne aai theein… ye to chaar din se har jagah yehi bol rahein hain (That’s it? She came here only to ask for votes. She is saying the same thing for the past four days,” said Jeevan Lal, a local, after Priyanka left Pachwara.
She was attentive to news channel reporters’ requests. “Call that cameraman, he wanted a footage. Ho gaya? Ab main jaaoun? (Have you got the required footage, should I leave now),” Priyanka asked the cameraman before leaving for the Soochi block.
“I am famous because of my father and brother who have done a lot for this constituency (Amethi). I have a never-ending relationship with this place because my family has worked for this region,” she said at a public meeting in Wazirabad block.
“My party workers have informed me that there are a lot of marriages on April 23 (the polling day) and there will also be a harsh sun. But I request you to spare some time and vote,” Priyanka said in all her meetings.
She began her day at 10 a.m. from Karahiya Bazar. She retired for the day at Munshiganj guest house – the favourite spot of her brother and mother – around 6 p.m.
“She will be addressing 17 public meeting tomorrow and will begin the day at 10 a.m. She will leave for New Delhi later in the evening,” state congress spokesperson A.P. Singh told reporters.