Priyanka to embark on east UP tour soon: AICC secy
Binay Singh | tnn | Mar 12, 2019, 04:57 IST
AICC secretary for east UP Bajirao Khade addressing a meeting of Congressmen in Varanasi on MondayVaranasi: After the announcement of poll schedule for Lok Sabha elections, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may begin her campaign in the region soon. In fact, the Congress has already started its poll exercise by sending AICC secretary for east UP in Priyanka’s team, Bajirao Khade, to Varanasi, the seat represented by Prime Minister Minister Narendra Modi.
“Since Priyanka ji is presently busy with poll-related preparations like selection of candidates and poll strategies, she could begin her east UP tour in the coming week or end of this week only,” said Khade, who was here on Monday to take stock of the party’s poll preparedness. He also held a meeting with the office-bearers of the district, city and block units, frontal organizations, different cell in-charges, ward members, former MLA, and others to finalise the poll strategies.
“Priyanka’s tour would give a major boost to the party’s poll prospects in eastern UP,” he told TOI adding that the candidates for Varanasi and others seats will be finalised soon. On being asked if there was a possibility of fielding Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is going to join Congress on Tuesday, from Varanasi, Khade said, “There has been no such decision as yet. The candidate will be finalised as per the prescribed norms of the party.”
When questioned whether former MLA Ajay Rai, who contested against Modi in 2014 poll, is in the race, he said that the candidature would be decided on the basis of performance and service to the party. “Things would be clear soon,” he said adding that the main objective of his visit was to review the ground realities to decide future course of action.
Sending AICC secretary of Priyanka’s team to Varanasi just a day after announcement of election schedule indicates that Congress is preparing to give a tough fight in the electoral battle. In 2014 parliamentary elections, Congress failed to win even a single out of the 12 seats, including Varanasi, Chandauli, Robertsganj, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Machhlishahar, Azamgarh, Lalganj, Ghosi, Ballia and Ghazipur, across the 10 districts in east UP.
In 2014, BJP had won 10 seats, while one was won by its ally Apna Dal (S) and one by SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both Congress and BSP had failed to open their account in the region. Even in 2017 assembly elections, Congress failed to win even a single of the 60 assembly seats in these districts.
Out of 60 seats, BJP won 32 and its allies AD (S) won 4 and SBSP 3 seats. The SP won 11 seats, while BSP registered victory on nine and Nishad Party on one.
“Since Priyanka ji is presently busy with poll-related preparations like selection of candidates and poll strategies, she could begin her east UP tour in the coming week or end of this week only,” said Khade, who was here on Monday to take stock of the party’s poll preparedness. He also held a meeting with the office-bearers of the district, city and block units, frontal organizations, different cell in-charges, ward members, former MLA, and others to finalise the poll strategies.
“Priyanka’s tour would give a major boost to the party’s poll prospects in eastern UP,” he told TOI adding that the candidates for Varanasi and others seats will be finalised soon. On being asked if there was a possibility of fielding Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is going to join Congress on Tuesday, from Varanasi, Khade said, “There has been no such decision as yet. The candidate will be finalised as per the prescribed norms of the party.”
When questioned whether former MLA Ajay Rai, who contested against Modi in 2014 poll, is in the race, he said that the candidature would be decided on the basis of performance and service to the party. “Things would be clear soon,” he said adding that the main objective of his visit was to review the ground realities to decide future course of action.
Sending AICC secretary of Priyanka’s team to Varanasi just a day after announcement of election schedule indicates that Congress is preparing to give a tough fight in the electoral battle. In 2014 parliamentary elections, Congress failed to win even a single out of the 12 seats, including Varanasi, Chandauli, Robertsganj, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Machhlishahar, Azamgarh, Lalganj, Ghosi, Ballia and Ghazipur, across the 10 districts in east UP.
In 2014, BJP had won 10 seats, while one was won by its ally Apna Dal (S) and one by SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both Congress and BSP had failed to open their account in the region. Even in 2017 assembly elections, Congress failed to win even a single of the 60 assembly seats in these districts.
Out of 60 seats, BJP won 32 and its allies AD (S) won 4 and SBSP 3 seats. The SP won 11 seats, while BSP registered victory on nine and Nishad Party on one.
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