New Delhi/Lucknow, Jan 24: In a strategic move to bolster its prospects in upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the opposition Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as party general secretary in-charge of east Uttar Pradesh.
She is likely to address a public rally in Lucknow next month, marking the start of the Congress campaign.
The development comes after the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party formed an alliance in the state which returns the highest numbers of parliament seats.
“We will not play on the backfoot," Congress president Rahul Gandhi told reporters in state capital Lucknow.
Asked if Priyanka will contest the Lok Sabha polls, he said, “It’s up to Priyanka to take a decision.”
The BJP reacted quickly to the announcement and termed the formal entry of Priyanka to national politics as yet another episode of ‘dynastic politics’.
The party also said her entry highlights the failure of Rahul Gandhi.
"Aaj ek rajyabhishek hua hae (This is only part of dynastic politics and passing of the responsibility within a family)," said BJP spokesman Sambit Patra.
He said the country has embarked on the path of a 'New India' and today the 'New India' is asking the question - "How long will this continue...after Jawaharlal Nehru, there came Indira Gandhi, then Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi...after Sonia Gandhi - Rahul Gandhi and now Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and after this who else?
"This shows the fundamental difference between the BJP and the Congress. In BJP, the party is the family whereas in Congress party, 'parivar hi party hae' (the family is the defacto party)".
Talking to reporters in Lucknow, Rahul Gandhi denied the development in the Congress has come because the party was not included in the 'Mahagathbandhan' of regional parties either in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar.
He asserted that the INC will field candidate in all the 80 seats.
But UP Congress president Raj Babbar earlier in the day accused the SP and the BSP of finalising the alliance without consulting the grand old party.
“The duo underestimated the oldest political outfit of the country while announcing Mahagathbandhan," Mr Babbar asserted.
“We have recently showed our strength in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where INC contested alone and formed the government”, said Babbar. The same, he said, will happen in UP with the Congress winning maximum seats.
Meanwhile, the Congress president in Lucknow asserted that the INC will field candidate from all the 80 seats.
In another significant move, the Congress party also made Jyotiraditya Scindia general secretary in-charge for western Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Scindia will take up his new assignment, following the Lucknow rally, which sources said could be held on February 10.
In 2004, Priyanka was instrumental in introducing brother Rahul to the media in Amethi and thereafter he contested the elections for the first time in 2004 from Amethi, once represented by his father late Rajiv Gandhi.
Before that, in the Lok Sabha elections of 1999, Priyanka helped her mother Sonia Gandhi win the two crucial seats of these constituencies by campaigning on her behalf. She stayed in Amethi for two weeks. Sonia had won the constituency by a huge margin.
In 2014, while Rahul and Sonia Gandhi campaigned in the entire nation, Priyanka took charge of Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Congress workers in Lucknow, Amethi and Rae Bareli along with other parts of the state celebrated with much fanfare on the appointment of Priyanka.
They distributed sweets, bursted crackers and danced at the state Congress headquarters in Lucknow and offices in Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said,'We welcome Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment as General Secretary. Her entry into active politics will energise cadres and be a catalyst for the rising fortunes of the Congress Party.'
Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora said,'The responsibility given to Priyanka ji is very important. This will not only have an effect on eastern Uttar Pradesh but also other regions.'
However, Mr Gandhi hinted that a “bigger” alliance can be formed in UP for the upcoming LS polls to take on the BJP if SP-BSP agree to include Congress.
“If SP and BSP want to talk to us for a bigger alliance in UP, then they are welcome, there is no problem," Mr Gandhi said adding that all, including Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, have similar mission--defeating the BJP.
“We still have door opens for larger alliance and anyone who can defeat the BJP is welcome,” Mr Gandhi said.
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