'Rahul as Ram, PM Modi as Ravana': Amethi gears up for 2019 Lok Sabha elections

AMETHI: With Congress President Rahul Gandhi headed to his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi on Monday, a poster war has begun in town. A poster showing Rahul as Ram and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Ravana has led to a controversy ahead of the Congress President's visit.

Aimed at the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the message on the poster reads: "Rahul roop mein bhagwan Ram ka avatar, 2019 mein ayega Rahul Raj. (Rahul is the incarnation of Lord Ram, Rahul Raj will be seen in 2019)."

Poster seen in Lucknow ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's visit today. pic.twitter.com/pB4AStHorx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 15, 2018

Another poster shows Rahul as Lord Krishna with a message: "Sangharsh se Vijay ki or chal diye maharathi.(the warrior has begun the journey)."

This is Rahul's first visit to Amethi after taking charge as the party chief. He is likely to hold roadshows at nearly seven places in Amethi. He will reach Salon via Rae Bareli at around 12.30 pm and address the public at Salon Nagar Panchayat. From Salon, he will proceed to Amethi, and then go to Munshiganj guest house. 

On January 16, at around 10.30 am, Rahul is likely to interact with the public at Musafirkhana, and then proceed to Jais, Jagdishpur and Mohanganj. 

Party workers have planned a grand reception in Amethi. "People of Amethi are quite excited about the visit of Rahul Gandhi. This is the first Amethi visit of Rahul Gandhi after he became the Congress president. People are looking forward to welcome him," senior UP Congress leader Akhilesh Singh said.

Congress spokesman Amar Nath said the new party president knows the state well. "He has a personal rapport with party leaders and workers in Uttar Pradesh... We are ready to work hard with him in the field," he said.

"The Congress will definitely work out ways and means to galvanise the party in Uttar Pradesh in order to make a big impact in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he added.