BJP gears up for grand show in Amethi

Several sops for district to be announced

Almost the entire top Uttar Pradesh BJP leadership, along with national party president Amit Shah, will be descending on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi on Tuesday.

The BJP plans to hold a grand show in the constituency, in which Union ministers Smriti Irani and Nitin Gadkari will not only take part but will also announce several sops for the district besides addressing a public meeting at Kauhar near Gauriganj, the district headquarters.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with around a dozen cabinet colleague of his, will also be participating in the programmes, according to state BJP sources.

Smriti Irani will be arriving at Amethi on Monday to monitor the preparations for Tuesday’s functions, sources said, adding that she would also be holding meetings with the local saffron party leaders to
give final touch to the preparations. BJP sources said that a slew of developmental projects will be announced during Shah’s visit. The new projects included the inauguration of three ITIs, a FM radio station, a Sainik school and some other road projects.

The BJP program in Amethi is being viewed in the political circles here as an attempt to showcase the strength of the party on the Nehru-Gandhi home turf and also to boost the morale of the party workers.

“Smriti Irani is certain to contest against Rahul from Amethi again in 2019 Lok Sabha polls... we want to assure the electorate of Amethi that only BJP can ensure the development of the constituency,” remarked a senior state BJP leader here.

Rahul Gandhi had wrapped up his three-day visit to the constituency on Friday, during which he took up the issues concerning farmers and also held a series of meetings with local party workers to keep their morale high.

Amethi had witnessed a bitter electoral battle between Rahul and Smriti Irani in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Though Rahul emerged victorious, the margin of his victory was reduced substantially.