Party doubles efforts to retain family strongholds, declares Priyanka will focus on these two constituencies, says Kavita Chowdhury
'At no point did Kamal Nath and Digvijaya indicate that the Opposition bloc was formed only to fight the Lok Sabha polls.'
Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas was shown black flags by a group of people, who were protesting against his purported remarks on a religious event, while he was heading to address a rally in Amethi, Rahul Gandhi's constituency.
The Congress vice-president reached Fursatganj air strip in Amethi on Wednesday morning and then made his way to several booths in the area.
'Rahul Gandhi is going to turn 54 and in India political leaders peak when they are around 60.' 'This 'bhai-behen ki jodi' has done a wonderful job for the Congress.' 'Priyanka Gandhi was a very effective campaigner.'
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday cut short his visit to his parliamentary constituency in Amethi and rushed to Assam, where over 100 people died in a boat tragedy in Brahmaputra. The Congress leader, who had to fly from Amethi for Delhi in the evening, winded up his three-day visit and left for Assam, Congress sources said.
'I am surprised to discover that Priyanka gives unimpressive speeches. It is as if she is fulfilling a 'duty.' Political passion is clearly absent.' Sheela Bhatt on the campaign trail.
While people voted in a fifth round that will set the tone as this election rounds into the straight, and while Modi on the stump chews the cud of personal grievances and hackneyed promises that have long since passed their use-by date, there is a rogue wave rising -- what damage it will do, we will know 16 days from today, observes Prem Panicker.
Is it is necessary to play divisive politics to succeed in the next general elections? asks Dr Sudhir Bisht.
With the Aam Aadmi Party hinting at a contest between Kumar Vishwas and Rahul Gandhi in 2014 general elections, the AAP leader said it is up to the party and the people of Amethi to take a decision on his candidature from the constituency represented by the Congress vice-president.
The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party, which has already crossed swords with the Congress, is all set to launch its campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from the bastion of Gandhi family -- Amethi and Rae Bareli -- on February 9. The party, while announcing its plan to organise Brahmin Sammelans across the state, has decided to organise its first convention in Amethi, parliamentary constituency of All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
The Election Commission on Thursday said it has sought a "factual" report on allegations that Rahul Gandhi, a candidate from Amethi, had violated rules by going to the polling area inside some booths in the constituency during balloting on Wednesday.
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Smriti Irani on Wednesday filed her nomination from Amethi and attacked her main opponent Rahul Gandhi, saying his own party did not have faith in his abilities to name him the prime ministerial candidate.
'The Constitution of India defeated the BJP.'
Apparently provoked by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's focus on enhancing road network across the state, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has suddenly woken up to the need of better infrastructure in Amethi, his parliamentary constituency, about 150 km from Lucknow.
A constable was killed and six persons injured in a clash here between alleged supporters of Anant Vikram Singh, the son of Congress MP Sanjay Singh, and police.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday declared 13 candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls including actor Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram in popular TV serial Ramayan, from Meerut, while replacing sitting MP Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit with state minister Jitin Prasada.
Gandhi said when the Congress was in power, the Opposition would allege that all money was going to Amethi and now they say nothing has been done here.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh is trying very hard to evict his own wife and children from Amethi Palace.
The local MP interacted with party workers and people not only from his constituency but far flunged areas and adjoining districts as well at Munshiganj guest house on last day of his visit, party activists said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday dubbed the electoral bonds as the 'world's biggest extortion scheme' and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the 'champion of corruption'.
With Lok Sabha elections knocking on the doors, United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi appear to have suddenly woken up to the need to develop their respective constituencies -- Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Exigencies of electoral politics and individual ambitions often stoke family feuds and sibling rivalries.
For the first time in his political career, he failed to carry his party to even a working majority -- and again, for the first time in his career, he finds himself in a situation where he cannot rule by dictatorial fiat, points out Prem Panicker.
On a tour of his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi had his vehicle intercepted by an unexpected quarter -- two sisters who had come all the way from Lucknow to narrate their woes to the Congress leader. When the Congress general secretary was on his way to Sarvan village, two sisters Sonia and Shivani intercepted his car and told him about the harassment at the hands of their uncles after the death of their parents.
What would Parliament be without these nine ladies?
Rediff.com captures the mood from Amethi and Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh to Baramulla and Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir.
In his characteristic style, Rahul walked into the dusty swathe of his constituency reminding villagers of the manner in which his father Rajiv Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi had interacted with them.
He upholds his father's legacy in reaching out to his electorate. Much like his father, he shuns the company of local party leaders, who are told to keep off while he is around.
The local administration has cancelled the application of Congress Vice President and local Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi for issuance of a domicile certificate.
When a similar incident had taken place last year in another village, Priyanka Vadra had helped the victim, a dalit, register a case with the police.
'People in politics have lost the value of being connected to their own people.' 'Now it's all about vote share, vote bank, how many parties can you break and make them join you.'
The SP chief said, "If the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them."
'Commentators have said that dealing with allies as equals will make Modi more sensitive.' 'Remember that the people Modi is dealing with are equally autocratic in their own lairs.' 'Further, Modi always has handy the threat of dissolving Parliament and calling for fresh polls.' 'Most of his own party, and certainly his allies and opponents having blown their budgets of efforts and resources in the just concluded elections, have no stomach for this.' 'They are all greatly looking forward to the loaves and fishes of office on offer.' 'That gives Modi an unbeatable advantage in any push-comes-to-shove situation,' explains Shreekant Sambrani.
Narendra Modi on Sunday ridiculed Sonia Gandhi for asking people in Amethi to take care of Rahul Gandhi to ensure his victory, wondering how the Congress vice president can lead the country when he cannot "handle" his constituency.
As the Uttar Pradesh assembly election battle hits new lows, Rediff.com's Aslam Hunani walks you through all you need to know about the fifth phase of polling on February 27.
The BJP's top leadership will drop its MPs found to be facing anti-incumbency, according to its internal surveys -- a pivotal tactic to ensure the party achieves its target of winning 370 seats.
Skirting any comments on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (demonstration on the streets of Delhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi chose to train his guns at the Uttar Pradesh government for neglecting Amethi, the Gandhi family's political bastion.
Party treasurer Ajay Maken has claimed that "democracy will be over if the action of probe agencies goes unchecked" and said the Congress has full faith in the judiciary.
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