NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday declared that there would be no change in the plans of All-India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, and that he would continue to press ahead with his mass-contact program despite the political controversy kicked up by the Uttar Pradesh government that Gandhi sneaked into the state without prior notice.
Congress snapped back, saying it was naïve on the part of any political party in the state to expect disclosure of plans in advance to a rival party.
Apparently Mayawati expected the Congress to reveal its mass-contact program in advance, under the pretext of security concerns.
Gandhi outwitted his political rival in Uttar Pradesh by taking her off-guard as he eyed her Dalit votebank.
Gandhi landed in Lucknow, the Capital of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday afternoon and drove down to Baraanki in eastern UP.
In Shravasti village he spent the night with a Dalit family, sharing a meal with them and inquiring about their problems and difficulties. In the morning, he walked around in the fields.
The entire exercise was undertaken to understand first-hand the issues and problems faced by people living in abject poverty.
Gandhi had undertaken similar visits in the past in different parts of the country and Congress has made it clear that a belligerent Mayawati cannot cow Gandhi down.
As Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and ruling Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati squirmed, Congress had reasons to smile, as these visits of Gandhi are going down well with the people.
