Tussle over Rahul's Amethi visit; First denied than allowed by Yogi govt

"Unfortunate that an MP can't go to his constituency on festivals".

The organisational polls of Congress are now underway, Pilot said, adding that the grass-root level cadres have appealed the party to cause no further delay in Rahul's elevation to the top post.

He said, "Many of their (BJP) leaders are also from political families".

A leader's performance ultimately decided his/her worth, Pilot, the son of late Union minister and Congress heavyweight Rajesh Pilot. "I believe we should have a good mix between the old and the new while one must keep changing", Pilot said.

Talking to reporters amid brewing controversy, district magistrate of Amethi, Yogesh Kumar, said the authorities had never said no to Rahul Gandhi's trip on October 4-6 but only asked for a 24-48 hour postponement in view of police's preoccupation with security arrangements for Muharram and Dussehra festivals.

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According to the DM's letter, Rahul's programmes were mainly in the Kathora, Musafirkhana and Tiloi Khas areas and the sub-divisional magistrate Musafirkhana and circle officer Musafirkhana had been deployed at Isauli ghat where immersion of hundreds of Durga idols would take place on October 4 and 5.

"There will be great inconvenience in maintaining peace and law and order during MP Rahul Gandhi's tour".

This is the first visit to Amethi by Rahul Gandhi since February 19 when he had addressed an election rally in his constituency. Singhvi asked. He added the Amethi district administration had later "admitted to its mistake" in this case. He further requested the Congress vice president to reschedule his visit for after October 5. "His credible sources are way ahead of us. But certainly, the ruling party's chief has the information.This hides a story in itself", Singhvi said.

Speaking to PTI last week, Rajasthan Congress president Pilot had said that Gandhi might take over as the Congress president shortly after Diwali and stressed that time had come for the party vice president to lead from the front.

Pilot added that the last names of leaders should not be treated as a disqualification in politics. "It has been something that has been in the pipeline for a long time".