The Congress is gearing up to counter the challenge posed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency Amethi.
Local Congress workers and leaders said AAP nominee Kumar Vishwash would not pose any threat to Gandhi. “Vishwash’s candidature will only help galvanise the workers,” said a senior district Congress leader.
That the party was getting ready to drive home a message that Gandhi was invincible in Amethi was reflected by the local unit planning a public meeting of the Congress leader at the same venue where Vishwash was scheduled to address his rally on Sunday. Gandhi’s rally, which was scheduled for Friday, was called off owing to heavy rain.
Possibility of the Congress vice-president being declared the party’s prime ministerial candidate has also boosted morale of the local leaders and workers. “Rahul’s opponents should know that the election in Amethi is fought by the people of the constituency and not the workers...the workers only lend a helping hand,” said state Congress committee member Munna Singh.
Amethi district Congress president Yogendra Mishra said: “People fight from Amethi more to gain publicity rather than anything else.”
Traces of tension was already evident in Amethi. Barely a few days ago, Congress workers had roughed up some AAP members during a talk show organised by a local TV channel.