Following the footsteps of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh have decided to spend time in dalit localities.

"On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, all district committees have been directed to organise conventions in dalit localities and community lunch in slums," party chief spokesman Subodh Srivastava said.

Similarly, block level leaders have been directed to organise chaupals in dalit dominated villages in their respective areas. Gandhi recently undertook a surprise visit to certain eastern UP districts and spent a night at the house of a dalit village head in Shravasti district.