Congress president Rahul Gandhi stops to meet his well-wishers on his way to Amethi.
Rahul Gandhi embarks on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi, starting Monday. It is Mr Gandhi's first visit to Amethi since he became Congress president. His visit comes on the heels of the assembly election result in Gujarat, in which his party showed a much better performance from the last election in the state. Mr Gandhi is now set to focus on Uttar Pradesh and plans to give a morale boost to party cadres for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
In the last assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress managed to win just seven seats, its lowest ever in the state. But what came as a bigger shock was its dismal show in Amethi and Rae Bareli, which had for long been a Gandhi family bastion. The 'Modi wave' stormed into Amethi and Rae Bareli, and the Congress was routed in eight of the 10 assembly seats in the constituencies. The BJP won six seats, while two seats went to the Samajwadi Party. In a major embarrassment to the senior leadership of the party, the Congress could manage victory in only two of the 10 prestigious seats. Congress lost all five seats in Amethi, and barely saved face by winning in just two of the five seats in Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli constituency.
Here are the highlights from Rahul Gandhi's 2-day visit to Uttar Pradesh's Amethi: The scuffle took place near the venue of Rahul Gandhi meeting in Rae Bareilly district. It took place after BJP supporters were protesting with banners and placards against Rahul Gandhi.
Scuffle breaks out between Congress workers, BJP workers and police at Salon, Raebareli.
He went to ask the people that, "Please tell me one Narendra Modi government scheme where someone has benefitted?" The Modi led government only believes in making one caste fight with the other. That's the only actual work done by Narendra Modi, he said.
Continuing with the issue of unemployment, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that, "We are competing against China. Their government gives 50,000 people employment in 24 hours." Whereas in India he says, "A total of 450 people get employment in 24 hours".
Rahul Gandhi also targets Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He says both Yogi Adityanath and Narendra Modi give big speeches. They spoke about giving employment to two crore people. He goes on to ask that, " Is there even one person who has been given employment by Narendra Modi?".
Rahul addressing the rally says that they were the ones to built multiple highways in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his minister's have taken the food park available from the people of the state.
He goes on to say that the condition of the potato farmers is very bad. They are crying everywhere. We wanted to bring a food park in Amethi. We would have helped the farmers who are growing potatoes and sugarcane. Amethi, Rae Bareily and other districts woukd have changed.
Rahul Gandhi addresses a public rally in Salon, Rae Bareily. He say's for three and half years, there has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in Delhi. Modi ji spoke about the Gujarat model of development. The people of Gujarat however have been asking us what that model is. They snatched the land and water of farmers and gave very less profit. This time they have got a big jolt in the state of Gujarat.
Rahul Gandhi begins his two day Uttar Pradesh tour with his visit to Hanuman Temple. He offered prayers at the Churva Hanuman Mandir on the Lucknow-Rae Bareli road hours after landing in the state capital.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is warmly received by party workers at Raebareli on his way to Amethi. He is welcomed with garlands and showering of petals.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Raj Babbar tweeted saying that, " We welcome Rahul Gandhi to his home state Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Ji visited Amethi. On his way to Amethi, he stopped at a shop on the way for some tea."
Rahul Gandhi at a tea stall in Nigoha near Raebareli. Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Raj Babbar is also present with him.
Preparations are underway to welcome the 47-year-old Congress leader. Party workers have decked the route that Mr Rahul Gandhi is slated to take today. The route has been decorated with Congress party flags, hoardings and posters.
Rahul Gandhi will begin by addressing the public at Salon Nagar Panchayat in Rae Bareli.
Party state chief Raj Babbar welcomed Rahul Gandhi on his arrival in Lucknow. Mr Raj Babbar had also held a meeting in Lucknow yesterday to review the preparations in the state.
Ahead of his first visit to Amethi as the Congress Chief, posters in Amethi show Congress President Rahul Gandhi as Lord Ram and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Ravana. The posters go on to say that Rahul Gandhi will usher in Ram Rajya in the country and will end the "misrule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)".