Gandhi’s visit has gained political significance as the Pasi Samaj has expressed its resentment over the poor representation of their caste — the community comes under the Scheduled Caste category — in the state government.

The Pasi Samaj, which has a considerable population in the Salon and Dalmau Assembly constituencies of Rae Bareli, had held a meeting on November 16 last year and demanded the day should be declared a public holiday in the memory of Udadevi, who had fought against the British.

“Sonia’s ‘love’ for the Mahe Pasi Fort may upset Chief Minister Mayawati,” said a source in the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

Sonia’s representative in her Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency, K L Sharma confirmed her visit to the fort. “There is a proposal to build a community hall near the fort. She visited to check the site. The people belonging to Pasi caste organise a Mela near the fort,” he said.

“She wants to develop the fort as a tourist spot. If there is any possibility, she will talk to the Union Tourism department to develop the site,” the source said.

She distributed blankets among villagers. This is routine, whenever she visit her constituency, blankets are kept inside the vehicles, the source said.