Weather played spoilsport in Congress’ poll campaign in western Uttar Pradesh, forcing the cancellation all three rallies to be addressed by party chief Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday.
Rallies and roadshows of the three Congress leaders were scheduled at Shamli in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency, Bijnor and Saharanpur on Monday. However, they had to be cancelled due to hailstorm and high winds that lashed the region on Monday.
Interestingly, campaigning in the region, which goes to poll on April 11, will come to an end on Tuesday evening.
In Saharanpur constituency, the announcement of cancellation of the rally was made by Congress candidate Imran Masood, leaving a large number of supporters who had converged on Gandhi Park braving inclement weather, disappointed.
Congress leaders claimed that they would try to see that their star campaigners visit the area on Tuesday before the campaigning ends.
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination papers for Amethi Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday.
Rahul has already filed his nomination papers from Wayanad parliamentary constituency of Kerala.
The Congress chief will be accompanied by his mother and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as per a letter of Special Protection Group handed over to Amethi District Magistrate.
Sonia Gandhi will also file her nomination from Rae Bareli the next day (Thursday).
“Rahul Gandhi will also hold a roadshow from Gauriganj town to Amethi collectorate, where he will file his papers,” said Congress MLC and Rahul’s campaign in-charge Deepak Singh.
Singh, who hails from Amethi constituency expressed confidence that Rahul would easily defeat Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Smriti Irani. In 2014, Rahul had defeated Irani by over one lakh votes.
Amethi goes to polls in the fifth phase of the elections on May 6.