Priyanka's campaign electrified atmosphere across UP: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Hitting back at Union minister Smriti Irani over her barbs at Priyanka Gandhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed the latter's campaign on Friday has "electrified the atmosphere across Uttar Pradesh".

"It is true that Priyanka campaigned only in Rae Bareli but she is closely monitoring the Congress- Samajwadi Party alliance's campaign across all 403 Assembly segments in the state," he told reporters.  

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On Irani's comments in Kanpur on Wednesday that Priyanka was "shying away" from campaigning in the ongoing polls as she "can not face the people's questions", the AICC general secretary said, "This only shows the BJP is scared of the drubbing it is bound to suffer in Uttar Pradesh."

"Priyanka Gandhi may have decided to actively campaign only in Amethi and Rae Bareli but her presence has electrified the atmosphere across the state.

"On the other hand, we have Prime Minister Narendra Modi desperately holding rallies in every nook and corner of the state which shows that he has sensed the impending defeat of his party in the Assembly polls," Azad said.

Priyanka, who addressed an election rally in Rae Bareli for the first time during the ongoing Assembly polls, joined her brother Rahul in attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "adopted son" remark, saying Uttar Pradesh does not need an outsider when it has its own to take it forward.