Click to play videoAmethi: Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi is powerless and angry. There have been protests in the VIP constituency after massive power cuts. Congress says it's yet another example of Mayawati's discriminatory policies.
There have been huge protests over massive power cuts, and people have been complaining that there is power for only three hours instead of the promised 10 hours. Locals have blocked roads and are even pelting stones at the police.
As expected, Congress is insisting it is Mayawati's vindictive nature at work.
Congress MP from Rajya Sabha Rajiv Shukla says, "The state government should not discriminate against the people just because Amethi is the constituency of the Gandhis."
Inside Parliament Rahul Gandhi has often picked up cause of Uttar Pradesh. This time too, it is the power situation which could emerge as yet another power struggle between the Congress and Mayawati's government.
However, Mayawati's office was quick to issue a clarification. They said that the power cuts were not harassment, but that the entire state was reeling under electricity shortage. Her officials put the blame squarely on the previous state government saying that Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party had done nothing to increase generation of power and thus the shortfall in the state.
Meanwhile, as Rahul Gandhi sharpens his strategy to take on Mayawati in the Assembly elections, he would be hoping that powerless Amethi can help his party gain power in the state.
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