Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who arrived here on Monday on a three-day tour of Rae Bareli and Amethi, has asked local party workers to rise over factionalism wars and work together for the success of the Congress in the coming Assembly elections.
As soon as Ms Vadra landed at Fursatganj air strip, her convoy was greeted by a group of Congressmen protesting against distribution of tickets to “wrong” persons.
Ms Vadra later met the agitated Congress men at Munshiganj guest house where she explained to them the prevailing situation. She also warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated.
According to sources, Ms Vadra said that flying squad teams would be constituted at the village level to keep a watch on saboteurs an these would be known a by a secret code.
She further said that, “Time was very short and party workers should reach out to people in villages and inform the electorate about welfare schemes of Congress and UPA government and muster support for party candidates.”
She added that workers were the backbone of the organisation and they would get full respect if they strengthened the efforts of Rahul Gandhi to revive the Congress in UP.
Ms Vadra, sources said, told the party workers that she would return to handle the party’s election campaign in Amethi and Rae Bareli from February 2, while Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi would campaign across the state.
When some Congress workers alleged that party candidate from Tiloi, Doctor Muslim, was ignoring them, she said that it was the responsibility of the candidate to work with all and she would keep a watch on this.
When some party workers told her about the paucity of electricity and water in the area, she said that a Congress government was needed in UP to solve these problems.
The media was kept out of Ms Vadra’s way and no media person was allowed to venture anywhere near her.