With just a few weeks left for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, all eyes are set on states which can play an instrumental role in the formation of the government. Uttar Pradesh for its massive contribution of MPs, 80 out of the total 543 to the Lok Sabha, has been crucial in the formation of the government.
The new kid on the block Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been campaigning in eastern Uttar Pradesh for the Congress party, began her three-day boat ride ‘Ganga Yatra’ from Prayagraj today. The boat ride is supposed to terminate in Varanasi, the constituency of PM Modi. While day to day program of the electoral campaign had been released by the Uttar Pradesh Congress a few days in advance, modifications were done in the plans over ‘detailing issues’ to include road trips in the route. Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s younger sibling and Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Vadra stepped in public politics at the age of 47. Priyanka Vadra is also the party in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
With the development of efficient waterways in Ganga, Uttar Pradesh has been experiencing growth in different aspects of business, tourism and now political campaigning, through these newly developed water corridors. Uttar Pradesh, with a huge potential for development of waterways, was lacking proactive measures to harness its natural geographical features. Mismanagement of resources and ineffective planning had kept plans for the development of waterways dormant for long.
PM Modi’s push to develop infrastructure around Varanasi Ghats and Nitin Gadkari’s commendable efforts towards the development of feasible waterways in the region has not only aided the economy through cheaper transportation and increased tourism it has even provided political opponents to execute political campaigns using these waterways. Priyanka Vadra with her ambitious campaign seems to have overlooked upon the very fact that these newly developed waterways in Uttar Pradesh are due to the efforts of PM Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, against whom she is campaigning in the state.
PM Modi who termed the first successful container shipment through the water channels and river as a historic achievement after independence had also said that transportation through inland waterways signifies new and proactive India. Taking about the type of work being done to develop efficient water way infrastructure minister of water resources and Ganga rejuvenation Gadkari said. “We have taken a slew of steps to promote inland water transport, which has been neglected so far. A study has projected traffic at 21.89 MT on National Waterway 1 (NW-1) by 2021,”
The three-day boat campaign is supposed to go through Mirzapur and Bhadodhi to end at Assi Ghat in Varanasi. which includes several road trips and interaction with the electorate along the way. People of Uttar Pradesh have not shown positive signs for the Congress. Eastern Uttar Pradesh where Congress expects to follow an impactful electoral campaign, has not responded to Congress’ efforts. Priyanka Vadra with her much-anticipated entry into Indian politics has been largely unsuccessful to create a lasting impact on the electorate.