Priyanka, Smriti in war of words over Rahul's work

Amethi, April 26 (IANS) A war of words broke out Saturday between Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BJP's Amethi Lok Sabha candidate Smriti Irani, as the Gandhi scion urged people not to vote for an "outsider" in the constituency.

Irani hit back, questioning how many times Rahul Gandhi visited the constituency in the last 10 years.

Addressing a public meeting here, Priyanka said Saturday: "All those contesting against Rahul are here just to contest against him..."

"... But our hearts are always here."

Attacking Irani, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is contesting from Amethi, Priyanka asked if she ever went back to Chandni Chowk after contesting the election from there.

"We never left the people of Amethi," Priyanka said.

Irani contested the Lok Sabha election in 2004 from Chandni Chowk in Delhi, but lost to Kapil Sibal of the Congress.

The Gandhi scion said people should differentiate in "drama and reality" during the election.

Irani retorted by questioning Rahul Gandhi's performance as a parliamentarian.

"Mrs. Vadra should tell how many times did Rahul come to Amethi in the last 10 years," Irani said in a tweet.

"They have kept Amethi aloof from development in the name of relations, and are taunting others... Compare my work as an MP in 2.5 years with Rahul, Mrs. Vadra, you will come to know who is doing the drama," Irani said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

Priyanka also said her brother had a "foresight" for Amethi and his work was not just limited to his constituency, but extended to areas around it.

"He has always wanted people to benefit from the development he initiated," she said.