Since the British
reign, many Taluqdars (Rai Bahadur) have been belonged from here. They have exploited the
common people. Due to the result of which the district was listed among the backward
districts. Till today the grass root politics of Raebareli has not been liberated from the
hands of exploitation.
Since Independence till today, only two times non congress candidate had been elected for
Lok Sabha from here (In 1977 by Sri Raj Narain, Janta Party and in 1994 by Sri Ashok Singh
of B.J.P.). Rest the seat has been won by the Congress.
Since 1967, when Smt. Indira Gandhi selected Raebareli as her constituency, Congress has
the hold here. During 1952 to 1966, the effect of Opposition Parties like Socialist Party
and Bhartiya Jansangh was very much, but after the victory of Smt. Indira Gandhi, the
opposition parties have been totally under eclipse.
Known as IRON LADY Prime Minister, she paid attention towards the overall development of
Raebareli. During her regime Indian Telephone
Industries, Raebareli Textile Mill, State Spinning Mill, Modi Carpet Factory and a dozen other industries were setup. Cent percent
electrification of the district was achieved. Total irrigation facilities were provided in
the district. Metal and concrete roads were constructed and Higher education facility was
also provided. She was the symbol of Modern Raebareli. Millions of rupees were spent on
the development of the district.
During this period, Raebareli became the nucleus of the Congress and Indian Politics. Once
in 1976 the cabinet meeting was held in Raebareli instead of state capital. District
Raebareli became the pilgrimage of congress workers. In spite of Mrs. Gandhi's statement,
all the congress workers had a desire to come to this pilgrimage before every elections.
During this period Raebareli got bumper publicity in the national and International press.
Due to the busy political schedule, she deputed Mr. Yashpal Kapoor as her political agent
to look after the welfare of Raebareli and whole of the work was looked after by the
Public Relation Office of Congress. During this period local leaders became insignificant
and the leaders, not belonging to Raebareli, but nominated by the Congress high command
dominated the district, and this got much bounce when Sri Sanjay Gandhi came in active
politics in 1976.
Being the constituency of the Prime Minister, the campaigning was much expensive due to
which local and common leaders did not dare to fight the parliamentary elections. Being
the Prime Minister, she contested from Raebareli in 1967, 1971 and in 1977 and being a
member of opposition party she contested in 1980. In 1977 she was defeated by Sri Raj
Narain of Janta Party as after Emergency, there was a "JANTA LEHAR" all around
the nation. In 1980 she contested from MEDAK (Andhra Pradesh) also, and after winning from
both the places she left the Raebareli seat, from where Sri Arun Nehru of Congress was
elected in the by-elections. But still she had love and adoration for Raebareli throughout
her life.
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