To ensure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Congress president, Brijlal Khabri on Tuesday held a meeting of the candidates who lost in the previous UP assembly election in 2022.
Interestingly, Congress general secretary and UP incharge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra once again did not turn up to head the meeting at the UPCC headquarters here.
A senior party leader, also a former MLA, claimed that Priyanka is least interested in Uttar Pradesh and was devoting her time in other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc, where assembly elections are scheduled by the end of this year. Priyanka addressed the office-bearers through a video-conference at the time of urban local bodies’ elections.
“As Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge belongs to south, he has also ignored Uttar Pradesh so far, and it is also evident from the fact that current UP Congress president Brijlal Khabri has failed to constitute his team even after being entrusted with the job now almost a year ago,” the former MLA said.
He further said that the party’s old guard were happy with speculations that Priyanka could be out from UP and be given some other important assignments.
“Party loyalists wanted some veteran leader like Kharge to be given the charge of UP as only full-time engagement in organisational build-up could give a new lease of life to the oldest political outfit, which has been gasping for breath in this biggest state,” he said.
It may be mentioned that besides Priyanka, speculations are also rife about replacement of Khabri after the AICC cancelled two appointments of working presidents made by him in Jhansi and Jaunpur districts.
Meanwhile, Khabri, while addressing the candidates who lost in 2022 Lok Sabha polls, asked them to visit their respective constituencies and work to strengthen the party organisation. He asked them to ensure that the party organisation is active at the booth level.
Khabri said that the workers and leaders should meet people to make them aware about how the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by Narendra Modi, has troubled them through rising inflation, unemployment, lawlessness, etc.