Congress banks on Hardik Patel in Gandhis’ stronghold

Even though the 25-year-old

Patidar

leader, Hardik Patel, is just a month-old newcomer in the 135-year-old Congress party, it seems the Congress is trusting him for campaigning in the party’s bastions — Raebareli and

Amethi

— almost as much as Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the party’s former president Sonia Gandhi.

Congress leaders believe that Hardik has been fielded as a star campaigner so the party can woo Kurmi or Patels and youths in the two constituencies. Hardik on Wednesday addressed two public rallies each in Raebareli and Amethi along with holding over 20 village meetings. Hardik said, "I have been trying to reach out to Kurmis or Patidars in UP. There is nothing wrong in wooing caste members and makeing youths aware of the bad policies of the Union government."

In his rallies, Hardik not only criticized the BJP government in Centre and state but also took on the SP and BSP for not providing basic infrastructure to people during their regime in the biggest state of the country.

"At present, farmers are struggling to get MSP (Minimum Support Price) for their crops, youths do not have jobs and the menace of stray cows have been increasing," said Hardik.

"He has addressed two public rallies in Amethi and held meetings in over 10 villages in the constituency. Whereas Rahul Gandhi himself had addressed one rally each in three different assembly seats of Amethi, and will hold two more rallies,"

Amethi district

Congress committee president, Yogendra Mishra said. "But Rahul Gandhi will not hold any Jan Sampark (voter outreach programme) in Amethi," added Mishra. Mishra said that the two seats have sizeable population of Kurmis, Chaudharis and other OBC castes

Raebareli district

Congress president, V K Shukla said, "Hardik addressed two rallies in Raebareli and conducted meetings in over 12 villages to woo Kurmi and Chaudhari voters. Sonia Gandhi had conducted a roadshow when she came to file nomination on April 11. These days, she has been meeting leaders of various parties."