Priyanka’s Himachal rally cancelled due to bad weather

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s proposed visit to Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday was cancelled due to bad weather.

Priyanka was scheduled to address a rally at Sundernagar in support of Congress nominee from Mandi Lok Sabha seat Aashray Sharma, grandson of former Union minister Sukh Ram.

Aashray is pitted against sitting MP and BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma.

The AICC general secretary was scheduled to arrive at Sundernagar at around noon.

“There were security concerns due to weather conditions in the region and the permission for her flight was not granted by the authorities,” said AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajni Patil.

“Priyankaji was eager to be among you, but couldn’t come due to bad weather. She has sent a lot of love for the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Patil told the waiting crowd. Earlier, Priyanka’s rally at Theog in Shimla district was cancelled due to security reasons.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of her visit left the supporters, who had come from far of places, including Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Bharmour, disappointed.

Many were also angry with the state leadership for not informing them on time. “The state party leaders should have requested Priyanka to address the rally through mobile phone,” said Mohan Negi, who had come from Kinnaur.

Later, she sent a video clip urging voters to extend their support to party’s Mandi candidate Aashray Sharma.

In the 55-second-long video clip, she appealed to the people to vote for the Congress if they wish to see development in their constituency.

In Priyanka’s absence, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, former Union cabinet minister Anand Sharma, HP Congress in-charge Rajni Patil, CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri and former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram addressed a rally.

All the Congress leaders targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Jai Ram Thakur in their speeches.

Interestingly, Aashray Sharma did not attend the rally.

All the four Lok Sahba seats in Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on May 19.