Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry into politics was said to be a longstanding demand of certain sections in the Congress.
New Delhi: The Congress Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as the general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh east, a development that marks her much-awaited entry into active politics.
The appointment, months before the Lok Sabha elections, is significant as it comes close on the heels of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) forging an alliance in Uttar Pradesh without the Congress.
So far, Priyanka has restricted her political role to the constituencies of her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi (Amethi) and mother Sonia Gandhi (Raebareli).
The area Priyanka has been given charge of is quite significant as her campaign will centre on east UP, home to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, and CM Yogi Adityanath’s stronghold and former parliamentary seat, Gorakhpur.
“This is part of the strategy planned by the Congress president and this will rejuvenate the party workers too,” said a senior Congress leader. The party has also given the charge of Uttar Pradesh west to Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Also read: Is Priyanka Gandhi the greatest victim of patriarchy in Indian politics?
“Uttar Pradesh is a major state for us and the Congress is putting all its energy in it. Other major changes will be done soon,” said another leader.
Rahul Gandhi is undertaking a two-day tour to Amethi, where he is likely to meet party workers to take stock of preparation. The party had fared poorly in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, only managing to retain Amethi Rae Bareli among Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats.
This is an updated version of the report.