UP polls: Rahul Gandhi urges leaders to rise above communal boundaries

Deoria (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 9 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged the leaders of various political outfits to rise above communal boundaries, and said that the power of India, which is captive in Uttar Pradesh should be given a chance to come forward.

Lauding the Congress Party for giving utmost importance to a person rather than to his caste, creed or religion, Gandhi said until and unless the leaders will not rise above communal boundaries, the state would never progress.

"We do not talk about religion, we do not talk about caste, we only talk about development wherever our government is in our power. Every man is equal for us whichever caste, religion or region he belongs to. We want the power of India, which is captive in Uttar Pradesh, should be given a chance to come forward," he told the gathering during an election rally here.

Gandhi further assailed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on issues of corruption.

"Normally, elephants walk on the road and eat leaves, but this magical elephant (electoral symbol of the BSP) in Lucknow is a special elephant, which eats only money belonging to poor people," he said.

It may be recalled here that Rahul Gandhi, who is leaving no stones unturned in garnering support for the Congress, has hit out at the various political parties during his extensive tour of Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh state elections spread through a seven phase polling in the months of February and March, 2012 are seen as an opportunity for the ruling Congress party to re-establish a foothold in its erstwhile political base in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Uttar Pradesh is politically important, as it sends a large number of lawmakers to the Parliament in New Delhi.

The Election Commission has announced the rescheduling of date for the first phase of polling in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh from February 4 to March 3.

The counting of votes in all five states - Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh will be done on March 6.

The first phase of voting has been rescheduled to March 3 from February 4. This effectively makes the first phase of elections into the last phase of polling. (ANI)