Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi in Amethi to further strengthen Congress

AMETHI: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived Amethi, his parliament constituency, for a three-day visit on Tuesday. Both Rahul and Priyanka conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates for the post of block and city unit presidents of the district.

The Congress Vice President and Priyanka Gandhi interviewed about 40 candidates for the post of 17 block and five city unit presidents since the morning at the Munshiganj guest house. Both the leaders asked questions about the party's history, Panchayati Raj, major schemes of Congress-led UPA government, benefits of MNREGA and ways and means for further strengthening the party organisation. The process for selection of these candidates had started on July 12 on the directives of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

A merit list was prepared on the basis of candidates' seniority and works done by them by a committee comprising present and former MLAs, members of PCC and AICC and was given to Rahul Gandhi. The four top performers, as per the recommendation of the committee for each block and city units, were called for today's interviews and this process would continue on Thursday also.

On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi alongwith Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde alongwith is scheduled to attend an event of the country's largest paramilitary force CRPF in Amethi. Apart from Shinde and Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Home R P N Singh, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, CRPF chief Pranay Sahay and other senior officials will attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of a recruits training centre of the Central Reserve Police Force which was envisaged in New Delhi in 2011. A group centre of CRPF is already located in New Delhi.