Sonia Gandhi meets panchayat members in Raebareli

UPA chairperson and local MP Sonia Gandhi today met local Congress panchayat members here and heard their grievances over the Mayawati government's alleged step-motherly treatment towards the constituency.

"The state government is misusing official machinery due to which 80% of the village roads do not have connectivity with main roads in Raebareli and Amethi. Due to this biased attitude, problems are faced in implementation of developmental schemes," local MLA Shiv Gandesh Lodhi claimed.

MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh also echoed similar sentiments and urged Gandhi to "act tough" to deal with the BSP government.

"Soniaji, the time has come when you should act tough against the state government to ensure development of the constituency," he said while addressing convention of panchayat members.

Gandhi assured them she would look into their demands and do the needful to solve their problems. The UPA chairperson earlier met locals in her constituency.

She also met Majhwara gram pradhan Kamla Devi, whose husband was killed last year allegedly by a BSP MLA's henchmen during panchayat polls.