Ending months of speculation, the Congress on Friday finally decided to field in a big way Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of party president Sonia Gandhi, during the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
The decision came after Priyanka had a meeting with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders, including leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress UP chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit.
Priyanaka so far has shied away from any direct involvement in politics, and limited her role to parliamentary constituencies of her family members. She may kick-starts her UP poll campaign from Allahabad by attending a party event there on Monday.
She, along with a number of top party leaders, will accompany Sonia Gandhi when the latter visits the city commemorating the birth centenary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A photo exhibition will be held at the historic Swaraj Bhavan — the house where Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1936 — and will remain open to the public till January 5 next year.
“It has been decided that she will campaign for the party in the State elections. She has accepted our request to campaign. Whenever we will get her schedule, we will use her time accordingly,” said Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar. A large section of Congress leaders believes that the party will gain immensely if she campaigns across the State.
A senior party leader confirmed that Priyanka would address around 150 public meetings, rallies and roadshows during her first leg of UP tour on demand of the party workers from the State. Priyanka will lead the campaign after her brother Rahul’s successful whirlwind tour of the State.
Babbar added that once the elections schedule is out there will be greater clarity on her plans for campaign in the State.
Babbar had earlier said Priyanka’s presence will give confidence and energy not only to the party men but also to the people across the State. He had also mentioned that if she gives enough time then Priyanka could campaign in all the 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
In the past, Priyanka has not campaigned in elections outside Amethi and Raebareli lok Sabha constituencies, represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi respectively.
While the party workers have been insisting that the Congress could not hope to revive its lost ground in UP without Priyanka taking the lead role in campaign, poll strategist Prashant Kishor had also insisted to the high command to draft Priyanka in the campaign.
For long, Congress leaders have been demanding that Priyanka should be roped in for party’s poll campaign in a bigger way. Rahul Gandhi ended his month-long Kisan Yatra last week in the national Capital where he goofed up by making the infamous “Khoon Ki Dalali” comment. However, party sources said that Rahul’s Kisan Yatra was a hit.
“Rahul’s Kisan Yatra was definitely impactful and has energised the grassroots workers. His 3,500 km yatra spanning a month brought an unprecedented amount of enthusiasm within the party cadres. Now to maintain the synergy of the energy generated by the Gandhi scion, Priyanka’s campaign will definitely strengthen the party in UP. Although she was in regular touch with local leaders, particularly from Amethi and Rae Bareily,” said a senior party functionary looking into UP affairs.