Priyanka, Rajnath, Akhilesh hold road shows in UP

Rajnath Singh, Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday pulled out all stops on the last day of campaigning for the April 30 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Balloting will take place for 14 seats across the state that day.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh held a road show in Lucknow, from where he is a candidate, while Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hit the roads for Samajwadi Party candidate Abhishek Mishra.

Braving the sultry heat, the leaders travelled in open vehicles as thousands of supporters and party workers joined them in their road shows across the state capital.

This was for the first time Akhilesh Yadav held a road show for any candidate. Seeking support for his state's science and technology minister, the chief minister urged people to vote for the Samajwadi Party to ensure development of the city.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, campaigned at Rae Bareli and held a road show in the constituency that also goes to the polls April 30.

Stating that development and prosperity were only possible under a Congress government, Priyanka Gandhi told reporters that she was sure that people in Rae Bareli would re-elect her mother.

Asked if the going was smooth in Amethi, from where her brother and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is contesting, Priyanka Gandhi answered in the affirmative.

Of the 14 seats that go to polls Wednesday, six are currently held by the Congress, four by the Samajwadi Party, three by the Bahujan Samaj Party and just one by BJP.

Prominent leaders in the fray include Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti (both of the BJP), Sriprakash Jaiswal, Jitin Prasad (both of the Congress) and Jaaved Jaaferi of the Aam AAdmi Party.