Zee Media Bureau
Lucknow: An elated BJP candidate Smriti Irani, after getting the backing of party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi during a poll rally here on Monday, said that the presence of the huge crowd shows that Amethi isn’t a stronghold of the Gandhi family anymore.
“Crowd at rally today shows that Amethi isn’t a stronghold of the Gandhi family like Priyanka claims,” Irani said shortly after Modi tore into the Gandhi family today, accusing them of not only being "arrogant" and "power drunk" but also of ignoring the welfare and interests of the poor in this constituency.
She added, “Janta ye sandesh de rahi thi ki ye shetra kisi ki jaagir nahi hain (The message of the public is – Amethi is nobody`s public property).”
“Crowd at rally today shows that Amethi isn’t emotionally tied to Gandhi family,” she further said.
BJP has pitted Smriti Irani against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi parliamentary constituency.
Amethi, a traditional stronghold of the Gandhi family from where Rahul Gandhi is the incumbent MP, is witnessing a three-way contest between the Congress vice president, BJP`s Smriti Irani and Aam Aadmi Party`s Kumar Vishwas.
Addressing a massive gathering at Gauriganj town in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, Modi today sought votes for Smriti Irani, saying the time has come to throw out dynastic politics and espouse the cause of development.
Challenging Gandhi to a debate with Irani, the Gujarat CM said if the media wants to test the competence of both the candidates, they should ask them the names of villages in the constituency.
He said if Irani - who he called his younger sister - names 100 villages, the Congress leader would not know about more than 10.
Modi said he has not sent Irani to Amethi to increase the tension of Rahul Gandhi but to end the tension of the people.
"I do not believe in `badla` (revenge), but in the politics of `badlaav` (change)," he said.
Modi further said Congress leaders scoff at him on what would be his future if he lost the polls.
"Congress leaders say that Rahulji in case of loss will be leader of opposition, but what happens to Modi? I can assure them that in such a scenario my tea-selling vend is ready," he said to loud applause.
In an all-out offensive against Rahul Gandhi ahead of polls in Amethi, BJP today released a video on under-development in his constituency and a "chargesheet" on his performance as an MP, accusing him of not raising a single issue of the area he represents for a decade, PTI reported.
"By the standard of performance of an average Lok Sabha MP MP, his record, to say the least, is abysmal," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said in Delhi, as party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi stormed Amethi, asking its people to "vote for change".
"What is more interesting is in last 10 years, Rahul Gandhi has not raised a single issue in Lok Sabha relating to Amethi. He asked zero questions on Amethi in Parliament in last 10 years. This shows his abject failure and utter disregard to solve the problems of the people of Amethi," Sinha further said.
