Shah-Smriti vs Rahul-Priyanka in Last Day of Amethi Campaign

(Photo Altered By The Quint)

With the deadline for poll campaigning drawing to a close on Saturday, 4 May, the political temperature in Amethi reached a fever pitch.

BJP President Amit Shah attended a roadshow with party candidate Smriti Irani, while Congress’ General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned in favour of his brother and party President Rahul Gandhi.

Polling in Amethi will take place in the fifth phase on Monday, 6 May.

Priyanka Roots for Rahul

Priyanka addressed a series of meetings in Amethi on Saturday. At such a meeting in a village, she said: "Kyon pade ho chakkar mein (Why are you hesitant)" and the people responded with ‘Koi nahin hai takkar mein (There is no competition)," reported news agency IANS.

She also listed the projects that had been withdrawn from Amethi after the Modi government came to power and rebutted the allegations levelled by Irani that Rahul Gandhi does not visit his constituency.

“She (Irani) has come here 16 times in the past four years and that too, for four hours each. Rahulji has come almost double the time and has spent more time with you,” Priyanka said.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also visited his constituency and held a meeting with women's groups.

He told media persons that he had no animosity towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I will fight with him on issues and not at a personal level. I believe that you can win with love and not hatred. I tell my party men also not to use harsh words but when things go beyond limits, I even take action," he said.

‘Choice Between Dynasty and Development,’ Says Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah held a roadshow in Amethi, the home turf of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday and said in Uttar Pradesh the choice is between dynasty and development.

Shah was accompanied by the party's candidate and Union minister Smriti Irani.

Talking to news agency PTI before the roadshow, Shah said, “In Uttar Pradesh, the choice is between dynasty and development. And people will choose development over dynasty.”

He asserted that the BJP would win the Amethi Lok Sabha seat by one lakh votes. "Our overall seats in Uttar Pradesh will also increase," Shah said.

Irani had lost the election to Gandhi in 2014, but was able to substantially reduce his victory margin from more than three lakhs in 2009 to just above one lakh in 2014.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)