File Photo: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
Amethi, Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh is in the spotlight. While Mr Gandhi is set to join issue with the Narendra Modi government in Parliament today over the closure of a food park there, the Centre has bigger plans - to develop Amethi as a smart city.
The move is seen as the ruling BJP's next bid to storm what has been a Gandhi citadel for decades.
The food-processing plant that the Congress vice-president is expected to talk about in his fourth speech in Parliament in the last month, was signed off by the previous UPA goverment that Mr Gandhi's party led. The Narendra Modi government has cancelled permission for the plant.
("The Food Park would have helped us sell our produce in bulk, get better prices. Currently we don't manage to sell all our vegetables and fruits", says Ram Lakhan, a farmer in Amethi.)
But in its own plans for Amethi, the Centre has written to the Akhilesh Yadav government in UP that it will be developed as a smart city, a senior Amethi official, MP Saroj, said.
He said a town planner will be brought in for this and Amethi will be developed as a modern and high-tech city with wi-fi, uninterrupted power supply, good roads, high-tech disposal of the wastes and world class education system with a focus on employment for youth.
Mr Gandhi, 44, has been representing Amethi for the last 10 years in Parliament. His father and grandmother have held the seat before him. In last year's general election, Amethi was one of only two seats that the Congress could win as the BJP swept UP, winning 71 of the state's 80 seats.
Against Mr Gandhi, the BJP fielded actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani, who managed to reduce Rahul Gandhi's winning margin. She was rewarded with a top ministerial berth at the Centre.
"This step of the Modi government may prove a boon to the Amethi people and they may discontinue their so-called affiliation with Nehru-Gandhi family," said Daya Shankar Yadav, a district level BJP leader, hopefully, referring to the smart city plan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an election promise to build 100 smart cities by 2022. The plan, crucial to PM Modi's ambition of attracting investment while providing jobs for millions, was cleared by the Cabinet last month.