Rahul's road show a tremendous success,says Gehlot

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) The road show by Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi at various places in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly elections has evoked tremedous response and would gain further momentum in the days to come, AICC General Secretary in charge of the State Ashok Gehlot said here today.

"The impact of Mr Gandhi's call to the youths during his road show is clearly discernable and the youths are able to see where their future lies," he told mediapersons here.

Mr Gehlot said there was a growing realisation of the fact that during the last 17 years the non-Congress Governments headed by SP, BJP and BSP had done nothing for the people. The announcement of payment of RS 500 as unemployment allowance to the youth and to increase it further to Rs 1500 was nothing but a joke.

"People have experimented with all kinds of non-Congress govenments and have become disillusioned. Now it is the turn of the Congress," the AICC General Secretary said, adding wherever Congress candidates were in the fray they would enjoy the support of the people.

The role of Mr Gandhi in building an atmosphere in favour of Congress candidaes is "extraordinary", he said.

Mr Gehlot pointed out that the Congress had put up candidates on 370-odd Assembly seats in the state and had left some seats for Mahendra Singh Tikait's party.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi would address public meetings at four places in the state in the two-day tour beginning tomorrow. The meetings would be held in Itawah, Jhansi, Urai and Kanpur.

Asked about elections to the MCD in Delhi, Mr Gehlot, who is also General Secretary incharge of Delhi, expressed the confidence that the Congress would be able to retain its hold in the civic body. He claimed that the Congress had provided relief to 90 per cent of the people in the national capital as far as sealing is concerned. Besides, it was the Congress which was instrumental in getting the new Master Plan implemented and getting 1500 colonies regularised.

Not only the MCD, but Delhi Government and UPA Government had provided relief to the people and the voters were bound to acknowledge this fact, he said, adding the MCD could not be blamed for the price rise.

Replying to a question, Mr Gewhlot said ticket distribution had by and large been fair and whoever had been denied the ticket in MCD election was taking into consideration the people's feelings and anti-incumbancy factor.

UNI