Lok Sabha polls 2014: Finally, Rahul Gandhi begins Amethi campaign

AMETHI: Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi kicked off his campaign in Amethi on Saturday by urging voters to “support the party that has always worked for the poor”, adding that his party will not support a Third Front at the Centre.

“We are winning. We have the required number of seats,” he said. “[Narendra] Modi gave away land worth thousands of crores to one industrialist – [Gautam] Adani. We started MGNREGA because we wanted to give you back your money. We empower you while Modi does corporate rajniti,” Rahul said. He said the Congress party believed in partnerships between the poor and industrialists where both could benefit.

This was Rahul’s first public meeting in Amethi after he filed his nomination here. His rivals — AAP’s Kumar Vishwas and BJP’s Smriti Irani — have regularly raked up the issue of his absence in their speeches.

Rahul addressed four more meetings while his sister Priyanka, who has been campaigning for him since Monday, met party workers in a guesthouse. Congress workers said Rahul has insisted on more ‘chaupal’ meetings this time instead of public rallies to ensure more interactions with the voters on Amethi.

Meanwhile, the BJP is going all out in its fight against Rahul Gandhi, and for starters, they want to make sure the Narendra Modi rally on May 5 is a resounding success. Senior leaders and youth wing heads have been asked to leave for Amethi and be present until the polls on May 7.

On Friday, members including Laxmikant Bajpai, Sudhanshu Mittal and Poonam Mahajan arrived in Amethi. Over 40 youths from Haryana have been alloted booths to manage.