Rahul's elevation: Amethi rejoices, Lucknow fails to respond

Amethi/Lucknow, Sep 24 (UNI) Congress workers in Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Rahul Gandhi, today rejoiced at the news of their MP being elevated as a general secretary of AICC and inducted into the Congress Working Committee.

In Lucknow, however, the news of the young MP's elevation as AICC general secretary in charge of NSUI failed to evoke any enthusiasm.

Several hours after the announcement was made, the UP Congress headquarters here failed to organise the traditional dance and fireworks programme. ''The removal of Salman Khurshid as UPCC president on the same day is a major reason...the UPCC managers are in New Delhi welcoming the new president,'' said a senior leader here.

''The recent statement of Rahul in Amethi criticising the Mayawati government for banning students' union polls and his elevation as in charge of NSUI today should have played magic. But somehow we failed to live up to the occasion,'' said a Youth Congress leader.

In Rae Bareli, the constituency represented by Congress preident Sonia Gandhi, Congress workers organised a dance show to celebrate the ''event.'' ''We are organising fireworks...workers are distributing sweets.

But we cannot on a short notice organise a good dance programme as troupes are available in Lucknow,'' said a local party leader in Amethi who is close to the Gandhis.

UNI