RAHUL GANDHI

BADAUN, UP: Accusing Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav of playing caste politics, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought a change in power saying a "government of the poor" by Congress in Uttar Pradesh will change the future of the state. Gandhi, who is on the second day of his five-day trip in the Samajwadi Party stronghold, alleged Mayawati government was corrupt and the money meant for poor does not reach them. "Elephants normally eat leaves. But you have magic elephant in Lucknow which eats currency notes," he told a party rally here ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Seeking a five-year stint in power, he said corruption in UP government was affecting the future of the state as no employment opportunity is generated in the state. "UPiites have built roads in Maharashtra, they work in Kerala, they help the farmers in Punjab...but they do not have roads, electricity or water in their villages. Who built the Delhi Metro? Who is working in ...

Taking his campaign to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's bastion, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday stepped up his offensive against SP and BSP and sought a 10-year Congress rule in UP to bring about a major transformation through fasttracking developmental work in the state.  Gandhi, who began his fiveday trip on Tuesday, said only Congress has taken up the cause of people in the state. Citing Bhatta Parsaul, where farmers were targeted in May, he said, none of the other parties barring Congress were seen there.  "In the past 20 years, what did you get? You trusted SP. What did you get back in return? You trusted BSP. What did you get? (You got) corruption. Now, we are talking about development, we are talking about the future. UP can change... In five years, we can start changing this state...," he told a political rally in Badaun/Bhimnagar.  With an eye on the crucial Muslim votebank, Gandhi waded into the minority stronghold of western UP even as the UPA government is work...