Priyanka's entry into active politics in eastern UP electrifies cadres; move seen as direct challenge to CM Yogi in his bastion

| TNN | Updated: Jan 23, 2019, 20:34 IST

Highlights

  • Though Priyanka had been taking care of her mother, her appointment as party general secretary in-charge of UP east will see her playing a major role.
  • With her being at the helm of party’s affairs and campaign in eastern UP, it is being widely anticipated that she will take on chief minister Yogi Adityanath head on in his bastion
AGRA: Congress leaders and cadres are literally electrified with the entry of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in UP’s electoral arena and they feel that she, along with Jyotiraditya Scindia, can change the political equations in the state.

Though Priyanka had been taking care of her mother, Sonia Gandhi’s constituency Rae Bareli for long, her appointment as party general secretary in charge of UP east will see her playing a major role in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With her being at the helm of party’s affairs and campaign in eastern UP, it is being widely anticipated that she will take on chief minister Yogi Adityanath head on in his bastion.


Priyanka Gandhi formally enters politics, Rahul says 'she is very capable'

The appointment is being seen as a masterstroke which will boost the morale of party workers in a state where Congress influence has been waning over the years and where the SP and BSP have announced a tie-up. Priyanka Gandhi, who turned 47 on January 12, will assist her brother Rahul Gandhi in the Hindi heartland state, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats.




Priyanka2_ED

FILE: Sonia Gandhi makes way for her daughter Priyanka. TOI


“This is a brilliant decision by the party high command and will rejuvenate the Congress across the state,” said party’s Agra vice-president Pradeep Kansal. He said that she is a “true reflection” of her grandmother Indira Gandhi and all party workers would do their best to revive the party under her guidance.


Priyanka's appointment is admission by Congress of Rahul's failure: BJP

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Congress president opted for a "family alliance" after facing "rejection" from various parties of the grand alliance. "The Congress has basically announced that Rahul Gandhi has failed and needs crutches from within the family. Because of his rejection by grand alliance parties, he opted for a family alliance," he said.


She will be a challenge for Narendra Modi, he said, adding that workers had been demanding this for long. He told TOI that a meeting of vice-presidents of western UP is scheduled in Delhi on Friday, which is likely to be headed by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is given charge of western UP, to plan a strategy for the upcoming LS polls.

AICC secretary Vivek Bansal said that Priyanka is the best choice to push the NDA out of power. He said her entry was long awaited and this is the right time for her to take charge.

Bansal said both Priyanka and Scindia have the power to pull the masses and they together will change the political arithmetic in the state. Scindia has a stronghold in Madhya Pradesh and his dynamic personality and strong leadership will help boost party’s image.


'On a mission, not sent for just two months': Rahul on Priyanka's new role in UP

"Congress is fighting for its ideology ... Priyanka and Jyotiraditya are young and strong leaders and with their help we want to change the politics of Uttar Pradesh," Rahul said.Rahul's comments came hours after Priyanka became AICC general secretary and was made in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Scindia was given the charge of western UP.


According to official release signed by Ashok Gehlot, Priyanka Gandhi will be taking charge in the first week of February 2019. Political observers say that the move to appoint Priyanka and Scindia may prove good for the Congress as a massive state like Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha and is the key to power at the Centre, cannot be managed well with just one person at the helm.


Political analyst and professor in AMU’s Political Science department Asmer Beg said that appointing Priyanka and Scindia in UP is the step to inject enthusiasm in the cadre as the party has lost its presence in the state. As both leaders have clean images and dynamic personalities, the Congress will try to attract the youth.


There has also been speculation that Priyanka may contest the coming Lok Sabha election from either Amethi, which is her elder brother Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha seat, or her mother’s constituency. Even when she had stayed away from any party position, she has nursed the two constituencies with Sonia and Rahul.
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