Activists of India Against Corruption led by Anna Hazare, got a shot in the arm with a referendum receiving overwhelming support in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's constituency Rae Bareli on Saturday.
Announcing the results of the referendum to assess public perception on Jan Lokpal Bill, IAC activists claimed 99.5 per cent of people have supported the Bill in Rae Bareli.
"Those who have come out openly in support of the Bill, have made it loud and clear that they would not support Gandhi or her party in the coming state assembly elections if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government failed to pass the Bill during the next winter session of the parliament,'' IAC coordinator Archana Srivastava told reporters.
As many as 1,40,000 forms were distributed across Rae Bareli with a straight query - 'Whether you will vote for Sonia or her party if she or the Congress opposes the Jan Lokpal Bill?'
"Of the 1,40,000 forms, we received over 1,07,110 forms until November 4, out of which 1,06,900 forms were in support of Hazare,'' claimed Srivastava.
Barely 5 per cent of the people were ready to support Sonia and her party irrespective of the fate of the Bill.
The referendum was carried out in the entire district between October 2 and to Nov ember 4.
According to the IAC coordinator , "The Rae Bareli unit of our organisation was in possession of the records like address, occupation and other information of each and every person who has participated in the referendum."
