Hyderabad, July 27 (IANS) Congress leaders who want to get noticed by party general secretary Rahul Gandhi by raising slogans and lavishing praise on him learnt a bitter lesson. The MP asked the leaders to stop praising him and instead work for the party’s victory in the coming elections. He expressed his displeasure with Ganga Bhavani, who heads the state women’s wing, for praising him.

Gandhi, who arrived here Saturday on a two-day visit, interacted with some party leaders and activists. When he wanted them to speak about their problems, Bhavani started praising him.

The young leader intervened and advised her to speak on the problems faced by the party. “Tell me what is the biggest problem faced by women in the state?” Gandhi asked.

The woman leader said women had no problems and again made an attempt to laud Gandhi’s leadership and the good work done by the Congress government in the state.

Gandhi this time took back the mike from her and said party leaders and workers should work for Congress’ victory in the next elections by taking the schemes launched by central and state governments to the people.

According to party sources, the participants at the meeting brought to his notice the challenge posed by Telugu actor Chiranjeevi who is forming a new political party. Gandhi advised them to counter the Chiranjeevi factor by giving priority to weaker sections and youth.

He visited Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of Congress party, and recalled the ‘close association’ his family had with Andhra Pradesh.

He praised the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government for the work undertaken by it during the last four years.

“I am impressed by the work done by government. Unlike the previous government the work is balanced towards future, rural and urban area,” he said.

“The previous government (of N. Chandrababu Naidu) did some work but it was focussed only on urban areas like Hyderabad and forgot about people in rural areas,” he said.

The general secretary had a tele-conference with presidents of district units of the party and emphasised the need for training party cadres for effective implementation of government schemes.

Gandhi later interacted with Congress workers at the ‘Aam aadmi ke sipahi camp’ at Miyapur on the city’s outskirts. The party workers are being trained to conduct social audit for government schemes and to disseminate information to people.