Gandhi, who landed in the Srinagar village in Mahoba district, met 29 families of farmers who had committed suicide due to poor economic conditions and promised them Central help.

The Amethi MP is slated to visit Jalon, Hamirpur, Banda and Ullan districts later in the day.

Gandhi, who restricted his visit only to the contact programme and avoided meeting party workers or addressing any meeting, has instructed the UPCC office bearers to collect complaints on the non-implementation of Central schemes.

"The region is a victim of favouritism. The money from the central fund gets distributed among the few favourites of the ruling class. The eight months of Mayawati's rule has seen more than 600 suicides and the state government is busy merry making in Lucknow," state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said.

A UPCC delegation had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently and demanded a special package for the region.

"We are hopeful of a package from the prime minister soon. But we fear that the money will have to be routed through the state government," she said.