Already buoyed with the victory in the Deoband Assembly bypolls at Saharanpur, Congress leaders were further upbeat with the visit of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.
Rahul, who will attend a Dalit Conclave is also likely to informally launch the party activities for the next Assembly poll scheduled for early next year. The leaders hoped that Rahul visit will give further boost to their campaign for regaining power in Uttar Pradesh.
Interestingly, as the Congress leader is visiting amidst JNU controversy so in apprehension of protest by BJP leaders during Gandhi’s visit, home department had already made elaborate arrangements to conduct the conclave peacefully and also to ensure that no untoward incident took place during 13-kilometer long travel of Congress vice-president from airport to the Party’s headquarters in Mall Avenue.
Special Protection Group(SPG) has already reached lucknow while the local police have taken up position at the venue. A mock drill of the cavalcade from airport to the Congress office was also done by the security forces on Wednesday evening. With intelligence reports of protest by BJP and its youth wings during the visit of Rahul, the security forces have been put on high alert.
Meanwhile, Congress has put up more than 100 gates and have covered the entire route of Rahul with hoardings and posters. Convener of the programme and Congress Rajya Sabha member P l Punia told media persons here on Wednesday afternoon that the Party workers will be given an arousing welcome to Rahul and stages have been erected at more than 50 places on the route. Punia claimed that the Deoband assembly by-polls win has infused a new energy among the Congress workers and leaders and this will be clearly projected during Thursday’s meeting. Congress has won the Deoband Assembly seat after a gap of 28 years.
Surprisingly just a day before the visit of Rahul Gandhi, an Allahabad court had accepted a sedition case against the Congress vice-president over his reported statement on JNU while another court of lucknow has sought police report on a similar case lodged against Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Rahul Gandhi will be attending a political function in lucknow after a gap of four years and after the programme, he will leave for his Parliamentary constituency Amethi for the next two days.