Rahul Gandhi on hit the campaign trail in Delhi, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to “personal PR” without delivering anything concrete in 8 months and favouring only a few industrialists.
Holding his first roadshow for the February 7 Assembly polls, the Congress Vice President expressed confidence that the party will stage a comeback in Delhi.
"NDA is in power at the centre since May but the prime minister is busy in his personal PR (Public Relations). Not a single concrete thing has taken place. The public is asking when will the talks get over and real work would begin.
"There has been favouritism and work of only 3-4 industrialists is being done. Those who are poor, who are needy are being neglected," he told reporters after the road show in the Kalkaji constituency.
The Congress vice president was also dismissive of the Aam Aadmi Party which had made a spectacular debut in the last assembly polls trouncing his party.
Gandhi toured Kalkaji and adjoining areas in an open vehicle accompanied by Congress campaign committee chief Ajay Maken, DPCC chief Arvinder Singh, local candidate Subhash Chopra and Sharmishta Mukherjee, Congress candidate from GK constituency.
"Congress is a party for the poor people. We will stage a comeback and will hold the hands of the poor and bring the country on the right track," Gandhi said.
He said his party will fight the February 7 Assembly polls on 3 key issues -- to provide electricity and water at the lowest possible rate, regularisation of temporary and contractual employees and to extend right to shelter to the poor on the lines MNREGA and RTI.
"We will give water and electricity at the lowest possible rates, give permanent jobs to contractual workers and give right to shelter," he said.
Asked about Aam Aadmi Party which ruled the state for 49 days last year with the help of Congress, Gandhi said it is "not an issue..."
He arrived in the area around 3.30 pm and the roadshow lasted for 80 minutes. He waved to the cheering crowds as his open-mini truck criss-crossed the area mostly of unauthorised colonies and slums.
The Congress vice president is likely to campaign in other areas of the city while party President Sonia Gandhi will address a rally in the next few days.
Some locals said drinking water, sewer and sanitation are the main issues in the area.
"We have been living in dirt and filth since the last several years. There is just one toilet facility in the entire slum. There are no sewer and clean drinking water," said Sulekha, who was standing out of her house to witness the road show.
Hundreds of people cheered Gandhi and there was frenzy to see the Congress scion. People were standing on terraces and balconies to get a glimpse of him. Locals welcomed him with garlands and rose petals.
The road show started at Baba Kharag Singh colony and passed through Navjeevan Camp, Kalkaji, Govindpuri Transit Camp, Nehru camp, Ravidas Marg and ended at Ramlila Ground in Kalkaji.
Congress nominee Subhash Chopra had won from the constituency for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013. However, last time he was defeated by BJP's Harmeet Singh Kalka. The AAP has fielded Avtar Singh.
