Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised party workers and the people of his constituency that henceforth he will interact with them on a one-to-one basis and not through any intermediary.
Mr Gandhi, who arrived in Amethi on a three-day visit, his first after the party’s dismal performance in the Assembly elections, braved the scorching heat and dusty winds to meet party workers and take their feedback on the poor performance of the Congress.
In Tiloi and Salon Assembly segments, the Congress leader held closed door meetings with party workers and was flooded with complaints about the poor performance of Congress MLAs and their refusal to connect with party workers. Partymen said that the Congress MLAs had failed to deliver and even basic amenities were lacking in the area.
“They never met us, never tried to solve the problems of the people and the constituency. With this attitude, how can you expect the people to vote for the Congress? The people are loyal to you but the legislators cannot take the voters for granted,” a party worker reportedly told Mr Gandhi.
Complaints about Mr Gandhi’s representative Kishori Lal Sharma acting as a barrier between the people of Amethi and the elected representative also greeted Mr Gandhi after which he assured the party workers that he would now establish a direct communication with them.
“There are wrong people surrounding you and they are the ones who decide everything in Amethi and Rae Bareli. While these wrong people get benefits from the Congress government at the Centre, they work for the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) during elections,” said Rashidul Khan, the village chief of Jiyapur.
Mr Gandhi asked party workers to “forget the past” and focus on the future.
The media was not allowed in.
Mr Gandhi is scheduled to meet party workers from Amethi and Gauriganj Assembly constituencies on Tuesday and on the last day of his visit, he will hold a meeting with representatives from Jagdishpur constituency before returning to Delhi.