Amethi showdown; Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra collides with Smriti Irani's Amethi visit

AMETHI: MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani is all set to visit the constituency on the same day as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra enters Amethi. Nyaya Yatra, which entered UP two days ago is reaching Amethi today. Amethi was once the power centre of Gandhi family. With Lok Sabha elections around the corner, there is great political significance behind both of them arriving in Amethi.

Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi who was MP from Amethi for 15 years in the last Lok Sabha elections. Since then, the two have not been seen together in Amethi constituency.

Union Minister Smriti Irani will arrive in Amethi on a four-day visit. Smriti Irani will visit the villages of the constituency. She is coming to the constituency to directly listen to the problems of the people. The visit will end on February 22.

Meanwhile, Rahul is coming to Amethi as part of Bharat Nyay Yatra. Rahul Gandhi's agenda is road shows, public meetings and direct contact with the people. Close sources say there is little possibility of a direct meeting between the two.

Bharat Nyay Yatra is a continuation of Bharat Jodo Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off in Imphal. The journey is 6,200 km through 85 districts of 14 states. It will end on March 20 in Mumbai. The second journey is mostly arranged in a special bus. Only in some places will he go on foot. The journey passes through the states of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.