UP: Rahul's roadshow in three districts cancelled

Lucknow, Apr 18: The roadshow of Congress' star campaigner in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi, has been cancelled due to 'unavoidable reasons.'' Rahul was to begin his fifth round of roadshow today from Barabanki. However, the Amethi MP would reach Balrampur tomorrow to resmue his roadshow. He would also hold a public meeting in Basti tomorrow and hold extensive 'jan sampark' (roadshow) in Bahraich.

UPCC president Salman Khurshid, however, will be present in the three districts where Rahul was to hold roadshow today. ''The routes and timings will remain the same. Instead of Mr Gandhi, Mr Khurshid will hold the programmes,'' UP Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan said here.

On Friday, the last day of his latest roadshow, Rahul would traverse through Gonda and Siddharth Nagar districts, addressing meetings along with holding 'jan sampark' or roadshows.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be back in Uttar Pradesh on Friday to address public meetings in favour of Congress candidates for the ongoing assembly elections.

This would be the Prime Minister's second visit to the state. He was in Pilibhit on Sunday to campaign for party candidates in the district.

AICC President Sonia Gandhi would also address separate public meetings on April 20 for party candidates.

While Dr Singh will address public meeting at Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich, Ms Gandhi would campaign for party candidates in Basti and Balrampur. This would be Ms Gandhi's third round of campaigning in the state for the ongoing elections. On Sunday, she campaigned in Barabanki.

These districts are going to poll during the fourth phase on April 23.

UNI