Away from the campaign trail this poll season, Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday made an emotional appeal to the voters in Uttar Pradesh asking them to defeat the "forces" that deprived them of the benefits of welfare schemes and "snatched away" everything from them.
In a letter to the voters of Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Nehru-Gandhi family pocket boroughs, ahead of fourth phase polling on Thursday, Gandhi appealed to them to vote for the Congress and strengthen her hands to initiate development in the area.
She, however, did not talk of the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance and sought support for only her party's candidates.
Gandhi said that for some reasons, she could not canvass for Congress candidates in the area and asked the people to treat her letter as her personal message to them.
Noting that this election is very significant, the Congress President took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achche din (good days) promise, saying that the Modi government has instead "snatched everything that the people had" and accused Modi of doing so to "save his own chair".
She said that the eyes of the entire country were on the electorate of Rae Bareli and Amethi, represented in the Lok Sabha by her and her son Rahul, and that they should vote for Congress candidates and help give support to her resolve and sentiment.
"For the first time I feel pained to learn that this present central government is deliberately trying to deprive people of the benefits of welfare programme. Have you seen a government that works against and weaken its own people?
"Unfortunately, the Modi government is doing this only. These people are working only for a handful of people and benefit a select few industrialists, the cost of which every poor is giving," she said in her letter.
Questioning the prime minister's claim of achhe din, Gandhi attacked his government's demonetisation decision that affected traders, youths, women, the middle class and minorities.
"These elections are very significant. In 2014, people of the country along with Uttar Pradesh gave a lot to these people. But, instead of bringing in achche din, the Modi government snatched all that you people had. They also snatched your land, your jobs and your hard-earned money. They can go to any extent to save their chair," she said.
"It has been a matter of pride for me and my family to represent you. Rae Bareli and Amethi are a part of our life and existence. The credit goes to you for whatever we are today. I share a special bonding with you which is the asset of my life," she said.
Appealing for votes, Gandhi said, "Please cast your every vote for the Congress candidates in these elections and provide strength to me to ensure speedy development of the area."
"By voting in favour of the 'Hand symbol' of the Congress party on voting day, you provide support to my resolve and sentiment," she said in her letter.
Attacking the Modi government, she said entire country is suffering due to "mis-governance" by the Centre with immense losses to farmers, youth losing their jobs, women suffering due to daily price rise while small shopkeepers were on the verge of closure.
"Dalits and minorities are living in an atmosphere of fear and dejection and that is why all eyes of the country are on you people," she said.
Gandhi has not hit the campaign trail in the five states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, where assembly elections were recently held or are underway.
Asked why she did not campaign for the party first time in 17 years, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that one should not speculate and insunuate as the party is moving ahead under her directions.
"Rahul Gandhi has gone, is going for campaign actively, so where is the issue. He is and has been extremely active, beyond that one should not draw conclusions," he said.
"It could be a clear sign that we are fully capable in terms of confidence that under her directions and leadership Rahul Gandhi is leading the campaign. It is also an indication that times have changed and generation shift is there."
Meanwhile, Rahul will be campaigning in his Amethi constituency on Thursday by addressing three public rallies there.
Priyanka Gandhi, who had jointly campaigned for party candidates in Rae Bareli along with brother Rahul, is unlikely to join him this time. She has in the past campaigned in Rae Bareli and Amethi.
In the phase IV of UP elections, the assembly constituencies falling under Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat will go to polls, while those falling under Amethi Lok Sabha constituency represented by Rahul Gandhi will go to polls in the next phase on February 27.
The elections that started on February 4 will end on March 8 and results will be out on March 11.
