Elections are like picnics for Gandhi family: UP deputy CM

Priyanka Vadra Gandhi took a boat ride as part of her 'Ganga-yatra' on Monday (March 19).

Launching a scathing attack on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is one a three-day Lok Sabha campaign which began from Monday, Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Dinesh Sharma flayed Congress for making a mockery of the election process in the country.

While Priyanka visited temples and took a boat ride during her first day of campaigning in Prayagraj, Sharma said that elections have turned into picnic outings for the Gandhi family. "They come during elections, have a picnic and go back, only to return after five years," he said. "Had these been the old times, they would have been called rajgharana (royalty or royal family)."

Labelling Priyanka's boat ride on Ganga as nothing more than a PR stunt, Sharma also said that parties Congress had wanted to ally with in Uttar Pradesh have already left them exposed. "The boat journey is only for votes and nothing more. The shortcomings in the boat ride has already been shown by their 'companions'".

Dy CM D Sharma on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Had it been old times,they would've been called a 'Rajgharana'. They come during elections, have picnic, go back&return after 5 yrs. 'Boat yatra' is only for votes. Inki boat yatra mein khot pehle hi inke sehyogiyon ne darsha diya. (18.03) pic.twitter.com/caOcWJkIiC

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 19, 2019

Sharma was referring to BSP and SP asking Congress to not give a wrong impression by leaving seven seats in UP vacant for their alliance. Both Mayawati, as well as Akhilesh Yadav, had said on Monday that their alliance was more than capable of defeating BJP and that Congress was free to independently contest in all seats in the state.

Congress had looked at an alliance with BSP but had been snubbed by Mayawati who, instead, chose to go with nemesis Akhilesh. Political analysts feel that a divided opposition in UP may just be the electoral medicine that BJP was looking for here even though Congress has attempted to galvanise party cadre by appointing Priyanka as its in-charge for eastern UP.