Amethi: "My mother is my hero," said Rahul Gandhi today (May 13,2004) after winning the Amethi Lok Sabha seat by over three lakh votes.

Sonia Gandhi has won against all odds, the 33-year old Rahul remarked.

Winning from a seat, which his mother Sonia Gandhi represented in the dissolved Lok Sabha, he said his first priority would be to connect himself with the people of Amethi.

Elections 2004-Where is India heading...
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Rahul credited the comeback of Congress to the work done by his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi.

"Today's verdict is on my mother's work and the strength of Congress," he told reporters after he defeated Chandra Prakash Misra of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by 3,00,500 votes.

Asked if the Congress and allies coming back to power was a surprise package, he said, "No, it is not a surprise package. (Victories in) Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were not a surprise. It was pretty clear to us, we will do well."

Rahul, who was targeted by the BJP for his mother's foreign origin said, "My family has (faced) personal attacks for last 50 years. We are not interested (in them). Frankly, we are not bothered and they don't affect us."

Indian masses, he said, had rejected BJP's negative campaign. "Hindustani public bahut sensible aur intelligent public hai (Indian public is very sensible and intelligent to get swayed by such remarks).

"If a political party runs a campaign centred on one person, then that means they have nothing for the masses. People will give befitting reply and they have done so."

Rahul downplayed BJP raking up of dynasty rule and said that party "has the habit of raking up such issues like Italian origin of my mother, Bofors and about us that we are kids in politics".

He had a word of advice for the BJP saying, "The party should think positive and talk about development and people's welfare. They should not indulge in making people fight each other and divide the country."

On Congress' prospects of delivering on people's expectations, Rahul said, "Congress has a history of over a century. Congress got us freedom, led the independent nation to first a green revolution and then information revolution. I am sure it will deliver again. You will see."

The debutant MP had his priorities in place and wanted to spend more of the time in this constituency.

"My first work will be to meet people of Amethi and understand their needs. I want to build a long relationship with them and work with them," he said.