Why not Varanasi, says Priyanka in jest to Cong workers on request to contest from Rae Bareilly, Amethi

When Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary and incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, was urged by her party supporters on Thursday to contest from Rae Bareilly or Amethi, she apparently responded in a lighter vein 'why not Varanasi!'.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the sitting MP from Varanasi, Priyanka's mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi represents Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha.

Priyanka was interacting with Congress workers when they requested her to contest from Varanasi. They said that if she contests from Rae Bareilly or Amethi, the BJP will be finished, sources said.

Immediately, Priyanka quipped jokingly, "why not Varanasi", sources added.

The Congress general secretary, who is currently on a three-day tour to Amethi, Rae Bareilly and Ayodhya, on Wednesday said that she would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections if the party wanted her to do so.

Meanwhile, posters slamming Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka were spotted outside the party office here today.

Posters with photos of Sonia and Priyanka have sprung up in the constituency, stating that the mother-daughter duo was never seen when people of Rae Bareilly were hassled.

Referring to Priyanka as the granddaughter of Firoz (Gandhi) and mother of Rehan, another poster stated: "She (Priyanka) is seen in temples during the course of election."

"Votes were given so that they could serve (us) but Sonia-Priyanka disappointed us," stated another poster.

Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases, from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.