Sonia in poll mode, gives pep-talk to party workers in UP

Rae Bareli, Sep 17 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi today winded up a two-day visit to her parliamentary constituency with a note of advice to the party workers to approach the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next-year unitedly and on an optimistic note.

She held a series of meetings with local party functionaries, youth wing leaders, party workers and the general public to take stock of the developmental needs in her constituency. She also met several delegations who had come to her with various local problems.

Ms Gandhi apprised herself of the pace of development works in her constutuency besides gauging the state of preparedness among the party cadre in view of the coming assembly polls.

She flew back to Delhi after her hectic tour during which she evaded direct interaction with the waiting media outside NTPC guest house at Unchahar and other venues.

The Congress leader today made a halt at Muhammad Kucharia and Nawabganj villages and reviewed the progress of Central- sponsored scheme of National Rural Employment Gaurantee (NREG). She interacted with the villagers and listened patiently to their problems.

The two-day visit of Ms Gandhi was mainly focussed at the preparations of the assembly polls, the congress leaders accompanying her said.

Yesterday, she had expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of developmental work in her Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency.

Attending a meeting of 'satarkta samiti' (monitoring and review committee) here, Ms Gandhi sounded unhappy at the quality and pace of developmental work being carried out by various government agencies.

Although Ms Gandhi did not interact with reporters waiting outside, local Congress leaders claimed that she felt standards were not being followed properly in construction of roads and similar infrastructure.

The Congress chief reportedly maintained the standards laid out in constructing roads under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) should be adhered to for better outcome.

She was reportedly told repair work was being carried out on an adhoc manner and at times repair work was discontinued mid-way.

There had also been complaints in Rae Bareli that several projects launched are left incomplete.

The AICC president had reached Rae Bareli by road from the Uttar Pradesh capital on a two-day visit yesterday.

Her visit came close on the heels of Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi touring his parliamentary constituency. On September 13, Rahul had wrapped up his visit of Amethi --cutting the tour short by a day due to a minor injury.

UNI SB KN YA RK1750