Cong, BJP heavyweight battle to Amethi, Varanasi

Hindustan Times, New Delhi :
As saffron forces flood Gandhi bastion Amethi to prepare for Narendra Modi’s big rally there on Monday, the Congress has deployed a contingent of heavyweight leaders in Varanasi – the BJP prime ministerial candidate’s seat – for smooth election management. It is also considering sending party vice-president and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi to the temple town, though a final decision is yet to be taken.
Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, sources said, is camping in Varanasi and has been there for a few days already. “He is our chief coordinator. He handles everything, from distribution of campaign material to the list of speakers for a rally,” a party strategist said. The others include foreign minister Salman Khurshid, commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma and senior partymen Mukul Wasnik and Subodh Kant Sahay.
The sources said the party was mulling the option of having Rahul campaign in Varanasi but “a final decision will be taken only after polling in Amethi gets over on May 7”. They added that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi won’t be travelling to Varanasi. Earlier, there was talk of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra going there and offering puja at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman mandir, though not actively taking part in any campaign. The Congress’ local MLA Ajay Rai takes on Modi and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi on May 12.
Wasnik, a prominent SC leader, is slated to attend a few rallies while Sharma is regularly seen alongside Rai in the latter’s tours. Khurshid is set to campaign in select pockets. Rai had earlier told the media Priyanka had assured him of all help.
In Amethi, preparations were in full flow on Sunday for the big show ahead. With Monday being the last day for campaigning, BJP candidate Smriti Irani plans to release her vision for Amethi – listing promises on the education, health, employment, women’s security and power fronts – while the Parivar is contemplating releasing a two-minute film on the region’s backwardness, sources told HT.