Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav - the two faces of Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance, will challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Parliamentary constituency by taking out a joint roadshow on Saturday.
While the earlier two proposed roadshows were cancelled due to various reasons, but the top leaders of both parties have pushed their strength to make the show a `historic one’ by surpassing the gathering witnessed at Modi’s maiden rally at Varanasi during the last Parliament elections.
The alliance partners feel that even if the BJP does well in other parts of the state, the defeat of its candidates in Varanasi will definitely dent the personal `image’ of the PM as the party has been in the fray banking on his ‘elan’ and did not project any CM candidate.
The roadshow, earlier scheduled for February 11, was postponed to February 27 and then cancelled. Congress sources confirmed that both Rahul and Akhilesh will lead the roadshow to express `solidarity’ between the partners.
Sources confirmed that before the roadshow, Akhilesh will address poll meetings at Keshavpur in Bhadohi and Munari in Varanasi to garner votes for SP candidates. Similarly, Rahul will address a rally in Varanasi. After the meetings, they will converge at Varanasi Police lines to kick off the roadshow.
A senior UP Congress leader claimed that preparations were on for the roadshow, which will cover 15 km from Police lines to lanka. About three dozen welcome booths will be set up at different places on the route.
He said that before the roadshow, Rahul will be also address a public rally at Pindra Bazar in Varanasi to gerner support for Congress candidate Ajay Rai on Thursday. As per Rahul’s schedule, he will also address meetings at Maharajganj and Gorakhpur the same day before reaching Varanasi.