Maya opposition to Rae Barelli rail unit gives Sonia edge

ess Trust of India / Laljang (rae Barelli) April 24, 2009, 11:29 IST

Sonia proposed, Mayawati disposed. And, the BSP chief's opposition to a Rs 1,685-crore rail coach factory in the Congress President's Rae Barelli constituency, may now drive Gandhi closer to victory.

The foundation stone for the factory was laid way back on February 13, 2007 and the state government led by Mayawati had allotted land on May 19, 2008 when she was a part of the Congress-led UPA coalition at the Centre. 

However, after the alliance between the two parties collapsed at the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government cancelled the land allotment on October 12 last year, triggering wide-spread protest by people. 

Later, Mayawati buckled under public pressure and agreed to give back the land, projecting in this process an image of being anti-development for the sake of political gains and handing an edge to the Congress chief in the build-up to the polls on April 30. 

Gandhi is facing BSP nominee R S Kushwaha and BJP's R B Singh, though 13 others are also trying their luck from here. 

"The issue of the rail coach factory will get more votes for Gandhi. There is no strong candidate from the opposition too," Samarjit Yadav, a Samajwadi Party supporter, said here.