All India Congress Committee general secretary Harish Rawat accompanied party president Rahul Gandhi when he, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, held a roadshow in Lucknow recently. During his visit to the state capital, Rawat urged the Election Commission to play the role of an active umpire to provide a level playing field to all the political parties. Umesh Raghuvanshi spoke to him about the polls, the issues and prospects of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Edited excerpts from the interview:

How do you see 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

I can see an atmosphere of change. If the people are in a mood to bring about this change, it is because of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Why are the people looking for a change?

The problems of the common man have gone up. The income of only a select few individuals has increased while that of the common man has gone down. Unemployment has also increased. There is no improvement in the agriculture sector and the farmers are angry. Same is the case with traders, entrepreneurs and the small industry. This will cost the NDA heavily. The exit of the NDA government is as clearly visible in these elections.

How is the Congress doing?

The Congress is doing well in these elections. The Congress is coming up as a largest single party. The NDA’s seats are not increasing. The NDA is losing seats and the UPA is gaining.

What about Uttar Pradesh?

We are in a position to win in areas where the Congress organisation is strong or the ones where the party’s candidates have considerable skills to organise the polls. We will win or come close to victory in many places. We are being discussed even in areas where the party has no votes and the party’s poll percentage will also go up considerably across Uttar Pradesh.

What impact has Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made in UP?

If the Congress is in focus in the state it is because of efforts put in by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. A lot of change has been witnessed and voters are thinking about the Congress while taking a decision about their votes. But Congress president Rahul Gandhi has given her the mission to bring the party in power in the state in 2022 and she will do so.

What are the issues in focus in polls?

The BJP is consistently making efforts to make a non-issue out of the important issues and an issue of non-issues. A large section of the electronic media is helping the BJP in doing so. As this has the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the impact may be seen in the print media as well. A combined effort is thus being made to sideline the issues that include unemployment, declining farm sector, infrastructure, internal security, and undermining of the constitutional institutions.

What about Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship issue?

Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship issue is being raised even after he has completed three terms as Lok Sabha MP. This issue is being debated in the media without any basis.

First Published: May 01, 2019 14:44 IST