Congress cancels big rallies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: The Congress on Wednesday cancelled its four marathon races listed this week and also decided not to hold any big rallies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh amid rising cases of the novel coronavirus infection. Party sources said apart from the infection scare, the decision also took into account the recent stampede-like situation in Bareilly where the party-organised marathon, as part of its election campaign, had left three girls injured. Accordingly, the marathon race for girls scheduled at Azamgarh, Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Aligarh have been cancelled.

Congress spokesman Lallan Kumar said on the instruction of general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, the party has cancelled its big poll rallies till the COVID-19 situation improves. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's rally in Noida scheduled for Thursday has also been cancelled, and no specific reason was given for the same. However, sources close to him said inclement weather can be the reason behind the move.

Congress spokesman Ashok Singh told PTI that the party has decided to go for small gatherings through 'Nukkad Natak' and door-to-door campaigns to reach out to the public ahead of the assembly polls.

Notably, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and its legislature party leader Aradhna Misra had recently written to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, saying political parties should be encouraged to hold smaller meetings like chaupa, nukkad natak and virtual meetings in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases in the northern state.