Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit looked all set to be declared as the Congress chief ministerial face for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as she played her first poll card on Tuesday, asserting she was no outsider but the “daughter-in-law” of UP.
“I am UP’s daughter-in-law, I married there, I was born there. I think that’s enough as a credential that way,” Dikshit said during an interaction with the media at the Indian Women’s Press Corps while rubbishing the “outsider” tag and the proximity to Gandhi family as an important factor in picking her for UP.
Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader from UP Uma Shankar Dikshit who had served as Union Minister and Governor. By projecting her as the CM face, the Congress is hoping to woo back the Brahmins, the traditional vote bank of the party that has shifted to the BJP and the BSP.
It is learnt that Congress’ election strategist Prashant Kishor favoured Dikshit as the party’s Brahmin chief ministerial face in UP. However, Dikshit is in no hurry to talk about UP elections right now. “let the announcement come and then only I will be in a position to comment. But I am ready to do whatever the party wants me to do as a foot soldier,” Dikshit said.
The 78-year-old leader believes age is just another number and in politics it hardly matters. “There is no retirement age in politics. I have expressed the desire to be involved in UP. Time is short. But I’ll go with whatever the party decides,” she said.
The former Delhi CM also asserted that one cannot wish the Congress away and said this was not the first time that the party was going through a low phase. “The time at our disposal is short. That’s the only concern I shared. Although apart from the SP, none of the parties including the BJP, have actively launched their poll campaign,” Dikshit said on UP.
On Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s participation in Congress’ election campaigns in UP, Diskhit said it is too early to comment. “I can’t tell you what will happen. It would be too presumptuous on my part to assume things. If she joins she will be very welcome because she is familiar with Uttar Pradesh. She will be a great asset,” she said.