The saris were distributed to women across the constituency.

This Diwali, Union minister Smriti Irani is taking the 'silk route' to Amethi. 15,000 silk sarees, purchased from the minister's own pocket, were distributed to women across the constituency as Diwali gift.On Monday - a day after its sitting legislator, Rahul Gandhi, left the constituency -- camps were held across the five assembly segments in Amethi, where the sarees were distributed.The cardboard packing was special too - carrying photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Irani.The message was not lost on the locals. Women said this was the first time they had received Diwali presents from a politician. They also said they hoped Ms Irani would solve their problems of roads and electricity.In the general elections held in May, Ms Irani had challenged the Congress Vice-President on the Gandhi family turf. She lost the election, but vowed to continue working for the people of Amethi. Even after becoming the Union minister, she regularly visited the constituency and assured people about fast-tracking Central schemes.

The minister's aide Vijay Gupta, who distributed the sarees, said they indicated Ms Irani's "strong will to serve the people of Amethi despite her defeat in the last parliamentary election".