Prayagraj: With less than a month to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday kicked off her three-day long river ride poll campaign from here to draw people’s attention and revive Party’s fortune in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Describing the Ganga as “large-hearted”, Priyanka Vadra, who has been entrusted with the charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, is banking on the sympathetic and generous nature of the people who live on the river banks to vote for the Congress.
As the boat sailed along slowly, Priyanka Vadra waved back at the people waving out at her to establish a connect. With a microphone in hand, the 47-year-old, shouted out to them, asking the crowd about their well-being.
Priyanka Vadra started her day as she left Swaraj Bhawan, her ancestral home, and arrived at the Bade Hanuman Mandir, popular as ‘Lete huye Hanuman Mandir’ near Prayagraj Sangam.
She offered prayers at the temple, as well as to the river Ganga.
She then embarked on her much anticipated boat ride from the Manaiya Ghat in Kachnar tehsil of Prayagraj district, according to party leaders.
Asked about her river ride, Priyanka Vadra replied, “Ganga maiya udaar hai (Mother Ganga is large hearted).”
She was welcomed by party supporters who showered flowers on her.
After arriving at Manaiya ghat, Priyanka Gandhi broke her security protocol and breached the barricades to shake hands with party supporters, who had arrived from different parts of the state.
She interacted with girl students as part of her campaign “Sanchi baat” soon after her boat left Manaiya ghat.
About 20-25 girls were riding along with her on the boat specially prepared for the campaign.
During the course of her river ride, she will also raise the issue of pollution destroying the river.
Pointing towards the river, he said, “You can clearly see that Ganga has not been cleaned and thus the river mother has called upon her daughter.”
On the first day of her three-day river ride from Prayagraj to the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she will cover the distance up to Sitamarhi ghat in Bhadohi district.
On her way from Manaiya to Sitamarhi, she will make her first pit stop at Dumduma ghat and interact with the villagers.
After leaving Dumduma ghat, the Congress leader will reach Sirsa ghat and then the Lakshagrih ghat.
She was expected to arrive at Sitamarhi ghat by evening.