Ravi Kishen's effigy burnt in Jaunpur as cadre revolts against parachute candidates in Uttar Pradesh
Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh are revolting against the party's decision to field candidates who have been 'parachuted' to constituencies that they have no connection with.
At the receiving end are cricketer Mohammad Kaif, actor Ravi Kishen and social worker Vaishali Ali, Congress candidates from Phulpur, Jaunpur and Sitapur respectively. Congress workers vented their ire against these 'outsiders' by bringing out black flags and burning effigies.
Kaif was in for a shock when his own party workers greeted him with black flags and chanted "Mohammad Kaif go back" in Allahabad on Thursday.
Party workers in Allahabad, which has been home to the Nehru-Gandhi family for decades, have been demanding Priyanka Gandhi's candidature from Phulpur, a seat once represented by Jawaharlal Nehru. A group of youth workers even put up a hoarding, voicing this demand. "Main nahi hum ki hai pukaar. Bhaiyya ko bhi hai behna ki darkaar. Priyanka tum karo prachaar. UPA ki banao sarkar teesri baar (Brother Rahul now needs Priyanka and she should join politics to ensure a third term for the UPA)," said the hoarding.
"Priyankaji should not limit herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli. Her joining active politics will completely change the election scene," said Haseeb Ahmed, secretary of the party's local unit.
Another Congress worker asked, "What will Kaif do for Allahabad? He will never be seen here, just like Azharuddin was never seen in Moradabad, Madhya Pradesh. Who will voice our concerns in the Lok Sabha?"
Congress workers in Jaunpur, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, went a step further to vent their anger over the decision to field Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishen. They burnt the actor's effigies. "Candidates are being dropped by parachutes. This is an insult to local party workers and leaders," said a senior party leader from Jaunpur who was hoping to get a ticket for the seat.
In Sitapur, Congress workers say, people have never heard of Vaishali Ali. Sources said neither does Ali have any relation with Sitapur nor does she bring glamour or celebrity status that could have drawn the locals to her. Sources said that none of the committed party workers and leaders at the local level are willing to work for Ali's campaign. Congress' Ammar Rizvi, who was in line for the Sitapur ticket, has voiced his opposition to the party's decision.
"Such mistakes are sure to hurt the party's electoral fortunes throughout the state," said a senior party leader, amplifying the bitterness among the party rank and file.
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