RAHUL GANDHI

Lashing out at non-Congress governments of Uttar Pradesh for "selling Ram, caste and religion" for the past 22 years, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today asked voters to give five years to his party for development of the state. "These parties have looted your hard earned money, sold Ram, religion and caste...never talked about progress and development in the past 22 years," Gandhi said addressing an election meeting here. The Congress general secretary said that he visits other states marching ahead on the path of progress and see people of the state contributing and the lack of development is UP fills him with anger. Attacking the BJP for its India Shining slogan of 2004 and Samajwadi Party for embracing former BJP leader Kalyan Singh, he said that his party has stood alone and never embraced people like Kalyan Singh and would not do so ever. Stressing that he would not budge till the state's progress is in place, Gandhi said that there was...

The ruling BSP on Wednesday targeted Congress's star campaigner in Uttar Pradesh -- Rahul Gandhi -- ahead of the assembly polls in the state. Addressing a rally in Sant Kabir Nagar, the BSP's Brahmin face, Satish Chandra Mishra, attacked the Congress general secretary calling him a beggar. Mishra slammed Gandhi for being an outsider "who only came to UP to beg for votes". The BSP leader's attack comes in the backdrop of Gandhi scion's beggar remarks in November last year. "Rahul Gandhi has studied abroad. He has spent most of his life abroad. His lifestyle is western. Then, why does he come to UP? If he is coming here to ask for you votes, then it means he is begging for votes," Mishra said. Lashing out at the Congress, Mishra alleged that the party was responsible for covering the BSP symbol across the state. The Congress's most vocal general secretary, Digvijaya Singh, was quick to return fire. He lost no time in hitting back at the...

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi has deputed 49 Congress MLAs from across the country to camp in select constituencies of Uttar Pradesh to "micro-manage" the campaign and ensure the party's victory in Assembly elections. The 49 constituencies, which go to polls in the first and second phases, have been personally chosen by Gandhi as Congress nominees in these segments are testing their fortunes in electoral arena for the first time. Sources said the MLAs, who belong to the Youth Congress, have been asked to camp in the constituencies alloted for them from the date of filing nomination to the day of polling so that everything goes as per the plan. "These MLAs will virtually take over the campaign from the candidates who are first-timers. Since these MLAs have had some experience, they will advise on the campaign strategy and interact with party workers and micro-manage the campaign," a senior Youth Congress leader said. Every MLA will have one constituency to lo...

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said Amarinder Singh will be the chief minister of Punjab if the Congress is voted to power in the Jan 30 elections to the 117-seat assembly in the state. Addressing political rallies at Chabhal area of Tarn Taran district and later at Ferozepur town, the young Gandhi scion ended the speculation on who would be the next chief minister if the Congress comes back to power. Amarinder Singh, the Punjab Congress president, is a former chief minister. Arriving almost two hours behind the scheduled time of his rallies at both the venues, Rahul took a dig at leaders of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine for "mismanaging the state" in the last five years. "These leaders tell you that Punjab is shining. They never meet the common people, sit or eat with them. They just see the shine from their cosy comfort," he said in Hindi. He said the Akali Dal-BJP government had promoted rampant...

Rahul Gandhi has evolved as an effective communicator and a true leader of the masses during his frantic campaign in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.  Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is making the most out of his stint at the helm of party's campaign for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The impact of his personal touch to politics' strategy will only be known on March 6 - when the counting of votes will be undertaken - but at a personal level, political commentators believe, Rahul is going from strength to strength as a leader of the masses.

SP's progressive face, Akhilesh Yadav carries an iPhone & talks development. The Samajwadi state chief assures Swati Mathur his party's aggressive image is a thing of the past & he is confident of forming the next govt Swati Mathur: How well are you prepared for the assembly elections? Akhilesh Yadav: SP was the first to declare candidates. We started campaigning early. Our message was consistent: We'd continue riding the rath and our cycle until we defeat BSP. I have toured over 170 constituencies and hope to cover at least 300. Apart from anti-incumbency , what other factors may work in your favour? SP has worked hard to expose the government's real face. We have grass-roots connect. We have raised issues that concern the common man. Electricity, corruption and lack of infrastructure , cheaper fertilizers, seeds and irrigation projects are issues we've fought for. This election is being projected as a Akhilesh vs Rahul battle. Is this hype? He may be th...