She is UP ki bahu: Congress counters

Though no leader could exactly recall the last time Dikshit had visited her in-laws’ village, Kamal Tiwari — who had contested the last bypoll from Unnao, said: “She came to the village about two years ago to unveil the statue of her father-in-law. Even her son was there with her. This was before the Lok Sabha elections. They might not have stayed here permanently, but they have been in touch.”

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Tiwari said while no one from Dikshit’s immediate family stays in the village as most have moved to neighbouring cities, distant relatives still live in Ugu. “The family gave away most of its property in the village to charity. It also runs an inter-college in the village in the name of Dikshit’s mother-in-law,” he added.

Hassan Wasif, Unnao district Congress president said he vaguely remembers Dikshit attending a wedding in Unnao about six months ago. She has also briefly campaigned in the state during the last two decades.

Dikshit has been MP from Kannauj in 1984, the Lok Sabha constituency at present represented by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav. She had again contested from the seat in 1989 but lost to Chhotey Singh Yadav, who was then a Janata Dal candidate.

Veteran leader Ram Krishna Dwivedi, who had been close to Dikshit’s family, said: “She is very much from UP and has always stayed in touch. She is the daughter-in-law of former Union home minister Uma Shankar Dikshit, who hailed from Ugu village. She has contested several elections from UP and a united state unit will fight the polls under her leadership.”

Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan added: “She has been active in UP politics. The party needed her in Delhi and she went there. Today, the party needs her in UP and she has accepted the task. All those who say that she is not from UP are wrong because she is not only the daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader from Unnao but has also contested several elections from here.”