Rahul, Akhilesh denied roadshow permission in Varanasi
The Varanasi administration has denied permission to allow Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to hold a joint roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency for the second time. However, the SP-Congress alliance claims that it has been called off as it coincides with the birth-anniversary of Guru Ravidas, an annual function wherein huge crowds gather in Varanasi.
The Varanasi administration has declined - for a second time - their permission to allow Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to hold a joint roadshow in the run-up to the crucial Uttar Pradesh election.The Congress is citing "inconvenience to people" as its reason to cancel the rally since the day coincides with Ravidas Jayanti, an annual festival in which a large number of people turn up in Varanasi. But there is more to it than meets the eye. Akhilesh Yadav had already planned rallies on the same day in Baraily and Rampur in western Uttar Pradesh. Apparently, the ruling Samajwadi Party is trying to put its best foot forward in western UP, which is why Akhikesh rallies were planned earlier this week.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have held two roadshows so far in Lucknow and Agra. Assembly Elections 2017: Full Coverage Incidentally, the temple city of Varanasi in eastern Uttar Pradesh is represented in Lok Sabha by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose BJP is a major contender in the seven-phase election starting Saturday.In the three-cornered fight in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul's Congress and Akhilesh's Samajwadi Party have allied and decided to contest 105 and 298 seats respectively.