Rahul Gandhi to continue surprise visits in Uttar Pradesh

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is expected to continue his surprise visits to the backward areas of Uttar Pradesh to know the "ground reality", despite concerns raised by the state government over his security.

Rahul Gandhi is likely to continue his unannounced visits and has identified 26 districts for the purpose, party sources here said.

Gandhi's 24-hour long secret visit to some of central districts, including Barabanki, in the state last week had kept the administrative machinery on tenterhooks. The state government later raised its objections over the way in which Gandhi conducted tour of the state without prior information.

UPCC secretary Devina Singh said Gandhi has himself set out to know the ground reality prevailing in the state, especially the condition of backwards and dalits.

"Though Mayawati had been at the helm four times, there had been no improvement in most of dalits and other sections of society, and now it seems that Rahul Gandhi has himself set out to assess the ground reality," Singh said.

The Congress leader said before his arrival here, Ram Nagar in Barabanki and Chutkaideeh in Shrawsti had been identified for Gandhi's visit.

More districts are expected to be covered later, Singh added.