Priyanka in Amethi: Will it boost Cong prospects?

Priyanka Vadra Gandhi arrived in Amethi on Friday on a three-day visit to oversee poll campaigning in her brother Rahul's parliamentary constituency and activate the Congress cadre who had expressed their dissatisfaction over the choice of party nominees.

Immediately after landing at the Amausi airport in Lucknow at around 10.40 am, Priyanka rushed to Munshiganj, about 140 km from Amethi, where she met block-level workers of Rahul's constituency.

"The main emphasis of the Congress is to win by a majority in Uttar Pradesh. Priyankaji is here to activate party cadres, who are very loyal to her and can do anything on her directions," Congress candidate from Amethi Amita Singh told media persons after the meeting.

A senior party leader described her visit as crucial in view of the widespread resentment among workers over selection of candidates in the constituency.

But Amita decided to downplay the issue saying, "Aisa kuch nahi tha. Ab Priyankaji aa gayi hain sab theek ho jayega (There was nothing like that. Now everything will be fine as she has come)."

Priyanka would come to Amethi again after April 18 and stay till April 28, when polling for the fifth phase is scheduled to be held.

"Her arrival in the election arena here would affect political prospects of opposition parties," said district Congress general secretary Prem Kant Tripathi.

Priyanka also held meetings with party candidates and workers from Salon, Tiloi, Jagdishpur and Gauriganj constituencies.

Though the Amethi constituency has remained a stronghold of the Gandhi family for long, Congress has not fared well in the assembly elections and perhaps this fact has forced the party high command to send Priyanka known for her organising skills. The party's performance in panchayat and local body elections was also not very encouraging.

Not only the internal problems, the party also faces a stiff challenge from political opponents.      

Priyanka, who is visiting the constituency after a gap of 16 months, will have to deal with some workers who, though having a soft corner for the family and the party, are not happy with the fielding of Amita Singh (Amethi), Mohd Naeem (Gauriganj), Ram Sewak Dhobi (Jagdishpur), Shiv Balak Pasi (Salon) and Dr Muslim (Tiloi).