Rajya Sabha in session, Congress leaders away from UP poll scene

Lucknow: Uncanny though it may sound, but it is the ongoing Rajya Sabha session that is emerging as a major hurdle in the UP Assembly election campaign of the Congress.

All top UP leaders in the Congress are members of the Rajya Sabha and their presence in the Upper house during the Parliament session has almost stalled the party’s campaign in the state.

AICC general secretary in-charge of UP affair Ghulam Nabi Azad, UPCC president Raj Babbar, campaign committee head Sanjay Singh, coordination committee head Pramod Tiwari and Dalit leader P. L. Punia and media in-charge Rajiv Shukla are all members of the Rajya Sabha.

“Since the Parliament session began, all these leaders are stationed in Delhi and it is only Raj Babbar who made a few visits to Lucknow in between. All these leaders are required to play a key role in the party’s campaign but their absence has demoralising the cadres,” said the leader.