Congress president Sonia Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli; but she has visited the constituency only once. Managing her campaign is daughter Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra.
Over the last two weeks, Priyanka has gone to every nook and corner of Rae Bareli, and the rural folk are excited by her presence. Gayatri Devi, a dhobi, has missed out on her work, so keen is she to see Priyanka.
"She looks like Indiraji," Devi says. If brother Rahul is Rajiv Gandhi in Amethi, in Rae Bareli Priyanka is Indira Gandhi. The locals believe she will one day rule India, like her grandmother did.
"She will be the next woman prime minister of India," insists Ranjan Das, who runs the Gandhi Cycle Shop in Rae Bareli.
Priyanka has been charming Rae Bareli as if to the manner born; and, she invokes Indira Gandhi constantly. "My grandmother taught me politics was seva," she tells villagers in the interior.
Wherever she goes, people jostle to touch her. "She is like God to us," says a poor woman.
For her part, Priyanka mingles with the crowds, embraces children and old women and poses for photographs with youngsters.
Clearly, Rae Bareli is only the first step.