Need to connect with poor: Rahul

Lucknow, Nov 12 (UNI) Newly-appointed AICC general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi today pointed out that Uttar Pradesh Congress' main weakness was its inability to represent the people and connect with the poor.

Talking to reporters here after attending the maiden meeting of the just-constituted UP Congress co-ordination committee, Mr Gandhi said while the party did not consider other political parties as its opposition, UP Congress' main adversary was the inability to represent and connect with people, especially the poor.

Replying to a poser, Rahul said the main focus should be on ''our ablity to connect with the poor.'' To another question on his party's vote bank, the young MP said he did not believe in vote bank. ''I believe that talented youth should have the ablity to enter politics and contest elections.'' The AICC general secretary said the party had been out of power in UP for the past 18 years. ''We lack in organisation...the record keeping is poor and there are problems in entry forms,'' he said.

The Amethi MP admitted that youth were unable to gain entry into the party fold. ''The Youth Congress will now work as a vehicle of accountability in UP and rest of India to attract the youth,'' he added.

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