Sonia to visit Rae Bareli this week,will review projects

“It will be a two-day visit but a detailed schedule is yet to come. Since it is one of the most awaited visits,we have started preparations,” said a party worker in Rae Bareli.

Her visit would be significant for more than one reason. First of all,apart from poor performance in the state,the Congress was wiped out completely in Rae Bareli in the Assembly elections. Party workers have been long waiting for her visit to vent their grievances against certain local leaders.

Secondly,last time Gandhi was here in the state for campaigning during elections,she had blamed the then BSP government for the lack of development in the state and had alleged step-motherly treatment to Rae Bareli. However,things have changed now. The new SP government has agreed to the request of the Central government to establish an AIIMS-like institute in Rae Bareli and make land available. It has also promised to clear all pending projects in the district. As a result,workers and leaders are waiting to see the response of their party president in the new situation.

Sources in the party inform that after Sonia Gandhi’s visit,AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi would visit the state in the first week of August. During the Assembly elections,he had promised to visit the state regularly. He,however,has not been seen here after the elections.