‘Congress will eat into BJP votes in seats where it’s weak,’ says Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi, who had reached here on Tuesday on a two-day visit to campaign for her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, stopped at many places to interact with the people and address public meetings.

Congress general secretary for east Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Wednesday indicated she was undeterred by the alleged “vindictive politics” and made it clear that her main concern was to raise the issues concerning the public during elections instead.

Priyanka Gandhi said there was a need to make the younger generation aware of the “misinformation” carried out by the BJP. (PTI File Photo)

“This is election time. Let us raise issues concerning the people. Whenever I come here, such questions are raised. Let them target. They will continue to target, this is how they work,” she said, when asked whether the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was still targeting her family.

Priyanka Gandhi, who had reached here on Tuesday on a two-day visit to campaign for her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, stopped at many places to interact with the people and address public meetings.

She started her day with a meeting with workers at 9.30am and campaigned till late in the evening. “There are other serious issues badly affecting the people here. The people are suffering, the farmers are suffering and youngsters are suffering. We are raising their issues in these elections,” she said.

“Youngsters should remain aware and keep away from misinformation and negative politics. They should keep an eye on the performance of the leader. Whether the leader has done what he promised should be watched. The BJP is zero on this front. They (BJP) indulge in big publicity. But their delivery is zero.” She further said, “The Congress, however, has a good record. I want tell the youth that they should follow the politics of truth and look at leaders who work for people, for development and the ones who respect and protect the Constitution.”

Asked whether her children would campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, she pointed towards her daughter Miraya, who was sitting on the rear seat, and smiled. “No,” she said.

Priyanka Gandhi said she was satisfied with her campaign so far. “Workers are enthused. This energy was missing earlier. The Congress is fighting with all its might. We are fighting to win. In UP, we are giving a tough fight wherever our organisation or candidate is strong. At other places where we do not have a strong organisation, we are cutting into votes of the BJP and not the SP-BSP-RLD alliance. Yes, we will work and the Congress will form the next government in 2022 in Uttar Pradesh.”

Asked about the atmosphere in Amethi at a time a political row has erupted over Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship, Priyanka Gandhi said she did not think there was a “strange atmosphere” but it was true that “they were raising such issues and even trying to insult the people of Amethi by distributing shoes and bribing the village pradhans”. “An almost similar situation prevailed when I came for the first time to campaign for my mother Sonia Gandhi in 1999. The people of Amethi are aware and they cannot be misled.”