Now, Defense Minister plans to develop villages in Rahul’s constituency

Amrauta village falls in Tiloi Assembly segment while other two villages are in Gauriganj Assembly area. During Lok Sabha elections, Parrikar had addressed public meetings in support of party candidate from Amethi Smriti Irani, at Amrauta and Hariharpur villages. The local party unit sent the name of Baraulia because several villagers had lost their properties in a fire incident in June this year.

When contacted, Parrikar told The Indian Express that he has received suggestions to adopt a village from around a dozen Lok Sabha constituencies from UP including Amethi. “I have not decided for a village yet. I will visit Lucknow in January first week and consult the state party leaders before finalizing a village for adoption,” Parrikar said.

This will be the first visit of Parrikar to Lucknow after being elected to Rajya Sabha. Parrikar said he was somewhat familiar with some areas of Amethi because he had campaigned there during Lok Sabha polls. “Amethi is under consideration for adoption. But, if I chose a village from some other constituency, still, I will surely work for development of at least two or some more villages in Amethi,” Parrikar told The Indian Express.

He, however, added that there was “no political reason” behind his plan to work for development of villages in Amethi. A BJP leader in Amethi said that an official from Parrikar’s office in Delhi had contacted a local party office bearer over phone and had asked for list of at least three villages that could be adopted under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious project. Under the scheme, Rajya Sabha members have to adopt a village in the state from where they have been elected.
Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi has adopted Jagdishpur village in Salon area but had criticised and questioned the scheme’s relevance.

During the elections, Smriti Irani had promised the Amethi voters that she will not leave the constituency even if she looses. After the elections, she had visited Amethi and also had sent sarees for women in five villages on the occasion of Diwali. Earlier, she had sent relief material for villagers in Baraulia village who had lost their belongings in a fire incident. She has also asked local BJP unit to look for space to open a permanent party office in city area.

Local BJP leaders are hopeful of preparing a pro-BJP mandate in Amethi that has been so far known as Congress stronghold.