Click to play videoNew Delhi: Rahul Gandhi began his three-day roadshow in Uttar Pradesh from Ghaziabad on Sunday, unveiling what he called a "new vision" to build a "golden future" for the heartland state.
The roadshow touched some of the cowbelt areas in north-west UP, like Muradnagar, Modinagar and Meerut on the first day.
Kick-starting the Congress party's poll campaign with less a month left for the elections, Rahul tried to hardsell the dream of development as a sizeable crowd of young and the old greeted and cheered him all along his route.
"Uttar Pradesh has been the cradle of development and all good things that has happened to the country, including the Independence struggle... I am here with a new vision and dream to restore the glory of the state," Rahul said.
He urged the people to defeat divisive forces and help the state regain its glorious past.
The son of Congress President Sonia Gandhi said in his rallies that Uttar Pradesh, which had historically showed the way to the country, had lost its way after 15 years of misrule. "I have decided to work shoulder to shoulder with you all to end 15 years of misrule," Rahul said.
The 37-year-old MP from Amethi, however, didn't get much response in Muradnagar. Local Congress leaders blamed the state administration for the thin attendance, saying many vehicles carrying party supporters were stopped before the venue of the meeting.
Rahul spoke in Muradnagar for just five minutes and dwelt on the lack of progress in the state under non-Congress governments.
More than 40 per cent of the state's funds came from the Centre, but they were not used properly, he said, asking where were the hospitals and roads that could have been built with this money.
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