SMRITI IRANI UNDERTAKES ‘PADYATRA’ IN AMETHI

LUCKNOW : Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani undertook a ‘padyatra’ in her Lok Sabha constituency, took part in a cleanliness campaign at a railway station at Jagdishpur and in a plantation campaign a little distance away besides meeting people of her constituency on Sunday.

She walked for nearly 10 kilometres, taking brief halts in between, said party leaders who accompanied her. Irani, who arrived in her constituency around 10.30am, spent hours connecting with people who chose her as their MP over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who subsequently stepped down as party chief following his Amethi loss in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Her padyatra is part of a plan under which all party lawmakers have to undertake a foot journey in their constituencies from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The BJP has also asked all Rajya Sabha MPs, party MLAs and functionaries to undertake similar padyatras. While Lok Sabha MPs are to undertake the foot march in their constituencies, the Rajya Sabha MPs and MLCs are to do it in places where the party’s organisational structure is weak.

Later, Irani left for Delhi in the evening and is expected to fly out to Mumbai where she would vote in Maharashtra assembly polls on Monday.

“She is expected to back in her constituency either on Tuesday or Wednesday,” a party leader said. This was her fifth visit to Amethi since she won the 2019 LS polls against Rahul Gandhi’s solitary visit so far. Though he lost Amethi, Rahul was elected to Lok Sabha from Wayanad seat in Kerala with a record margin.

SHE WALKED FOR NEARLY 10 KILOMETRES, TAKING BRIEF HALTS IN BETWEEN, SAID PARTY LEADERS WHO ACCOMPANIED HER.