Congress young turk Rahul Gandhi on Monday began his second road show in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh with a sharp attack on both Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party for dividing people on the basis of caste and religion.
Playing the development card and questioning the records of the successive Samajwadi Party and BSP governments, the Amethi member of Parliament criss-crossed Lalitpur district, which forms part of the Bundelkhand belt and goes to polls on April 7.
"It is time to end the injustice of the last 15 years and the youth should take over the reins of the state," he told a fairly large gathering in Mehrauni, who waited for over three hours in the scorching sun to catch a glimpse of the Gandhi scion, who is being projected as the face of Congress in the state.
"After 15 years, now they are asking for one more term for development. This is a false promise. They have ruled you by dividing you on the lines of caste and religion," Rahul said amidst applause.
He is being accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Salman Khursheed and Capt Satish Sharma.
Seeking to strike a chord with the voters, he said, "Elections may come and go, but I will be there with you to lead Uttar Pradesh into the path of development."
Earlier, Congress workers removed hoardings and banners put up to welcome Rahul in pursuance of an Election Commission directive.
"The Election Commission objected to the banners after which we removed them," party candidate in Mehrauni Puran Singh Bundhela said.
Bundhela is a sitting BJP legislator and is contesting on a Congress ticket now.
Congress is banking on Rahul's road shows in a big way as it feels he had created an impact during the first road show earlier this month in western Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul's campaign trail wil take him through Samajwadi strongholds like Etawah and Agra while the Bundelkhand belt has a strong BSP influence. Congress has a good base in Kanpur and adjoining areas.